HJURP peptides and vaccines including the same

ABSTRACT

Isolated peptides derived from SEQ ID NO: 50 and fragments thereof that bind to an HLA antigen and induce cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and thus are suitable for use in the context of cancer immunotherapy, more particularly cancer vaccines are described herein. The inventive peptides encompasses both the above mentioned amino acid sequences and modified versions thereof, in which one, two, or several amino acids sequences substituted, deleted, added or inserted, provided such modified versions retain the requisite cytotoxic T cell inducibility of the original sequence. Further provided are nucleic acids encoding any of the aforementioned peptides as well as pharmaceutical agents, substances and/or compositions that include or incorporate any of the aforementioned peptides or nucleic acids. The peptides, nucleic acids, pharmaceutical agents, substances and compositions of this invention find particular utility in the treatment of cancers and tumors, including, for example, AML, bladder cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, cholangiocellular carcinoma, CML, colorectal cancer, esophagus cancer, Diffused-type gastric cancer, liver cancer, NSCLC, lymphoma, osteosarcoma, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, renal carcinoma, SCLC, soft tissue tumor and testicular tumor.

PRIORITY

The present application is a U.S. National Phase of PCT/JP2011/001407,filed Mar. 10, 2011, which claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplications No. 61/312,931, filed on Mar. 11, 2010, and 61/315,320,filed on Mar. 18, 2010 the contents of which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of biological science, morespecifically to the field of cancer therapy. In particular, the presentinvention relates to novel peptides that are extremely effective ascancer vaccines as well as drugs for treating and preventing tumors.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING

This application includes a Sequence Listing as a text file named“SEQTXT_(—)87331-023010US-848384.txt” created Nov. 6, 2012, andcontaining 22,580 bytes. The material contained in this text file isincorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND ART

It has been demonstrated that CD8 positive CTLs recognize epitopepeptides derived from tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) found on themajor histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecule, and then killthe tumor cells. Since the discovery of the melanoma antigen (MAGE)family as the first example of TAAs, many other TAAs have beendiscovered through immunological approaches (NPL 1, Boon T, Int J Cancer1993 May 8, 54(2): 177-80; NPL 2, Boon T & van der Bruggen P, J Exp Med1996 Mar. 1, 183(3): 725-9). Some of these TAAs are currently undergoingclinical development as immunotherapeutic targets.

Favorable TAAs are indispensable for the proliferation and survival ofcancer cells. The use of such TAAs as targets for immunotherapy mayminimize the well-described risk of immune escape of cancer cellsattributable to deletion, mutation, or down-regulation of TAAs as aconsequence of therapeutically driven immune selection. Accordingly, theidentification of new TAAs, capable of inducing potent and specificanti-tumor immune responses warrants further development of clinicalinvestigation of peptide vaccination strategies for various types ofcancer is ongoing (NPL 3, Harris C C, J Natl Cancer Inst 1996 Oct. 16,88(20): 1442-55; NPL 4, Butterfield L H et al., Cancer Res 1999 Jul. 1,59(13): 3134-42; NPL 5, Vissers J L et al., Cancer Res 1999 Nov. 1,59(21): 5554-9; NPL 6, van der Burg S H et al., J Immunol 1996 May 1,156(9): 3308-14; NPL 7, Tanaka F et al., Cancer Res 1997 Oct. 15,57(20): 4465-8; NPL 8, Fujie T et al., Int J Cancer 1999 Jan. 18, 80(2):169-72; NPL 9, Kikuchi M et al., Int J Cancer 1999 May 5, 81(3): 459-66;NPL 10, Oiso M et al., Int J Cancer 1999 May 5, 81(3): 387-94). To date,several clinical trials using these tumor-associated antigen derivedpeptides have been reported. Unfortunately, many of the current cancervaccine trial have shown only a low objective response rate (NPL 11,Belli F et al., J Clin Oncol 2002 Oct. 15, 20(20): 4169-80; NPL 12,Coulie P G et al., Immunol Rev 2002 October, 188: 33-42; NPL 13,Rosenberg S A et al., Nat Med 2004 September, 10(9): 909-15).Accordingly, there remains a need for new TAAs as immunotherapeutictargets.

HJURP (reference sequence is shown in GenBank Accession No:NM_(—)018410), Holliday junction recognizing protein, was identifiedfrom genome-wide expression profile analysis of non-small cell lungcancer using cDNA microarray composed of 27,648 genes (NPL 14, Kato T etal., Cancer Res. 2007 Sep. 15; 67(18):8544-53). HJURP is involved in thehomologous recombination pathway in the DSB (DNA double-strand break)repair process through interaction with hMSH5 (human MutS homologue 5)and NBS1 (Nijmegen breakage syndrome protein 1), which is a part of theMRN protein complex. Treatment of cancer cells with small interferingRNA (siRNA) against HJURP caused abnormal chromosomal fusions and led togenomic instability and senescence. In addition, HJURP overexpressionwas observed in a majority of human lung cancers (PTL 1, WO2004/031413).Taken together, these data suggests that HJURP may be applicable to thetarget of cancer immunotherapy for patient.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   [PTL 1] WO2004/031413

Non Patent Literature

-   [NPL 1] Boon T, Int J Cancer 1993 May 8, 54(2): 177-80-   [NPL 2] Boon T & van der Bruggen P, J Exp Med 1996 Mar. 1, 183(3):    725-9-   [NPL 3] Harris C C, J Natl Cancer Inst 1996 Oct. 16, 88(20): 1442-55-   [NPL 4] Butterfield L H et al., Cancer Res 1999 Jul. 1, 59(13):    3134-42-   [NPL 5] Vissers J L et al., Cancer Res 1999 Nov. 1, 59(21): 5554-9-   [NPL 6] van der Burg S H et al., J Immunol 1996 May 1, 156(9):    3308-14-   [NPL 7] Tanaka F et al., Cancer Res 1997 Oct. 15, 57(20): 4465-8-   [NPL 8] Fujie T et al., Int J Cancer 1999 Jan. 18, 80(2): 169-72-   [NPL 9] Kikuchi M et al., Int J Cancer 1999 May 5, 81(3): 459-66-   [NPL 10] Oiso M et al., Int J Cancer 1999 May 5, 81(3): 387-94-   [NPL 11] Belli F et al., J Clin Oncol 2002 Oct. 15, 20(20): 4169-80-   [NPL 12] Coulie P G et al., Immunol Rev 2002 October, 188: 33-42-   [NPL 13] Rosenberg S A et al., Nat Med 2004 September, 10(9): 909-15-   [NPL 14] Kato T et al., Cancer Res. 2007 Sep. 15; 67(18):8544-53

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention is based, at least in part, on the discovery ofthe suitable targets of immunotherapy. Because TAAs are generallyperceived by the immune system as “self” and therefore often have noimmunogenicity, the discovery of appropriate targets is of extremeimportance. Recognizing that HJURP (SEQ ID NO: 50), typically encoded bythe gene of GenBank Accession No. NM_(—)018410 (SEQ ID NO: 49) has beenidentified as up-regulated in cancers, including, but not limited to,acute myeloid leukemia (AML), bladder cancer, breast cancer, cervicalcancer, cholangiocellular carcinoma, chronic myeloid leukemia (CML),colorectal cancer, esophagus cancer, Diffused-type gastric cancer, livercancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), lymphoma, osteosarcoma,ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, renal carcinoma,small cell lung cancer (SCLC), soft tissue tumor and testicular tumor,the present invention focuses on HJURP as a candidate for the target ofcancer/tumor immunotherapy, more particularly novel HJURP epitopepeptides that may serve as suitable immunotherapeutic targets.

To that end, the present invention is directed, at least in part, to theidentification of specific epitope peptides among the gene products ofHJURP that possess the ability to induce CTLs specific to HJURP. Asdiscussed in detail below, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)obtained from a healthy donor were stimulated using HLA-A*2402 orHLA-A*0201 binding candidate peptides derived from HJURP. CTL lines werethen established with specific cytotoxicity against the HLA-A24- orHLA-A2-positive target cells pulsed with each of candidate peptides. Theresults herein demonstrate that these peptides are HLA-A24 or HLA-A2restricted epitope peptides that may induce potent and specific immuneresponses against cells expressing HJURP. These results furtherdemonstrate that HJURP is strongly immunogenic and that the epitopesthereof are effective targets for cancer/tumor immunotherapy.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provideisolated peptides binding to HLA antigen, derived from HJURP (SEQ ID NO:50) and the immunologically active fragments thereof. Such peptides areexpected to have CTL inducibility and, thus, can be used to induce CTLex vivo or to be administered to a subject for inducing immune responsesagainst cancers examples of which include, but are not limited to, AML,bladder cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, cholangiocellularcarcinoma, CML, colorectal cancer, esophagus cancer, Diffused-typegastric cancer, liver cancer, NSCLC, lymphoma, osteosarcoma, ovariancancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, renal carcinoma, SCLC, softtissue tumor and testicular tumor. Preferred peptides are nonapeptidesor decapeptides, and more preferably, a nonapeptide or decapeptidehaving an amino acid sequence selected from among SEQ ID NOs: 2 to 24and 26 to 48. Peptides having an amino acid sequence selected from amongSEQ ID NOs: 3, 4, 7, 18, 23, 26, 27, 30, 31, 32, 35, 37, 38 and 43showed strong CTL inducibility and thus are particularly preferred.

The present invention also contemplates modified peptides having anamino acid sequence selected from among SEQ ID NOs: 2 to 24 and 26 to48, wherein one, two or more amino acids are substituted deleted oradded, so long as the modified peptides retain the requisite originalCTL inducibility.

The present invention further encompasses isolated polynucleotidesencoding any peptides of the present invention. These polynucleotidescan be used to induce or prepare APCs with CTL inducibility or, like theabove-described peptides of the present invention, can be administeredto a subject for inducing immune responses against cancers.

When administered to a subject, the present peptides are presented onthe surface of APCs so as to induce CTLs targeting the respectivepeptides. Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provideagents, compositions or substances that include or incorporate anypeptides or polynucleotides of the present invention for inducing CTLs.Such agents, compositions and/or substances can be used for thetreatment and/or prophylaxis and/or postoperative recurrence of cancers,examples of which include, but are not limited to, AML, bladder cancer,breast cancer, cervical cancer, cholangiocellular carcinoma, CML,colorectal cancer, esophagus cancer, Diffused-type gastric cancer, livercancer, NSCLC, lymphoma, osteosarcoma, ovarian cancer, pancreaticcancer, prostate cancer, renal carcinoma, SCLC, soft tissue tumor andtesticular tumor. Thus, it is yet another object of the presentinvention to provide pharmaceutical agents, compositions or substancesfor the treatment and/or prophylaxis and/or prevention of postoperativerecurrence of cancer that include or incorporate any peptides orpolynucleotides of the present invention. Instead of or in addition tothe present peptides or polynucleotides, the pharmaceutical agents,compositions or substances of the present invention may include asactive ingredients APCs or exosomes that present any of the presentpeptides.

The peptides or polynucleotides of the present invention may be used toinduce APCs that present on the surface a complex of an HLA antigen anda present peptide, for example, by contacting APCs derived from asubject with the peptide or introducing a polynucleotide encoding apeptide of the present invention into APCs. Such APCs have high CTLinducibility against target peptides and find use in cancerimmunotherapy. Accordingly, the present invention encompasses themethods for inducing APCs with CTL inducibility as well as APCs obtainedby such methods.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method forinducing CTL, such methods including the step of co-culturing CD8positive cells with APCs or exosomes presenting the peptide of thepresent invention on its surface or the step of introducing a gene thatincludes a polynucleotide encoding a T cell receptor (TCR) subunitpolypeptide binding to the present peptide. CTLs obtained by suchmethods find use in the treatment and/or prevention of cancers, examplesof which include, but are not limited to, AML, bladder cancer, breastcancer, cervical cancer, cholangiocellular carcinoma, CML, colorectalcancer, esophagus cancer, Diffused-type gastric cancer, liver cancer,NSCLC, lymphoma, osteosarcoma, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer,prostate cancer, renal carcinoma, SCLC, soft tissue tumor and testiculartumor. Therefore, it is yet another object of present invention toprovide CTLs obtained by the present methods.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide methods forinducing an immune response against cancer in a subject in need thereof,such methods including the step of administering compositions orsubstances including the HJURP polypeptides or immunologically activefragments thereof, polynucleotides encoding HJURP polypeptides, exosomesor the APCs presenting HJURP polypeptides.

The applicability of the present invention extends to any of a number ofdiseases relating to or arising from HJURP overexpression, such ascancer, examples of which include, but are not limited to, AML, bladdercancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, cholangiocellular carcinoma,CML, colorectal cancer, esophagus cancer, Diffused-type gastric cancer,liver cancer, NSCLC, lymphoma, osteosarcoma, ovarian cancer, pancreaticcancer, prostate cancer, renal carcinoma, SCLC, soft tissue tumor andtesticular tumor.

More specifically, the present invention provides followings:

[1] An isolated peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ IDNO: 50 or an immunologically active fragment thereof, wherein saidpeptide binds an HLA antigen and has cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)inducibility,

[2] The isolated peptide of [1], wherein the HLA antigen is HLA-A24,

[3] The isolated peptide of [1], wherein the HLA antigen is HLA-A2,

[4] The isolated peptide of [1] or [2], wherein said peptide comprisesan amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:2 to 24,

[5] The isolated peptide of [1] or [3], wherein said peptide comprisesan amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:26 to 48,

[6] An isolated peptide selected from the group consisting of:

(a) an isolated peptide that binds to an HLA antigen, has cytotoxic Tlymphocytes (CTL) inducibility, and consists of the amino acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO: 50 or an immunologically active fragment thereof,

(b) the isolated peptide of (a), wherein the HLA antigen is HLA-A24,

(c) the isolated peptide of (a) or (b), which comprises an amino acidsequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 2 to 24, and

(d) the isolated peptide of (a) or (b), wherein said peptide comprises amodified peptide having of an amino acid sequence selected from thegroup consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 2 to 24, wherein 1, 2, or several aminoacid(s) are substituted, deleted, or added, provided said modifiedpeptide retains the CTL inducibility of the original peptide,

[7] An isolated peptide selected from the group consisting of:

(a) an isolated peptide binding to an HLA antigen and having cytotoxic Tlymphocytes (CTL) inducibility, wherein the peptide consists of theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 50 or an immunologically activefragment thereof,

(b) the isolated peptide of (a), wherein the HLA antigen is HLA-A2,

(c) the isolated peptide of (a) or (b), which comprises an amino acidsequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 26 to 48, and

(d) the isolated peptide of (a) or (b), wherein said peptide comprises amodified peptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the groupconsisting of SEQ ID NOs: 26 to 48, wherein 1, 2, or several aminoacid(s) are substituted, deleted, or added provided said modifiedpeptide retains the CTL inducibility of the original peptide,

[8] The isolated peptide of [6] which consists of an amino acid sequenceselected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 2 to 24, wherein thepeptide has one or both of the following characteristics:

(a) The second amino acid from N-terminus is selected from the groupconsisting of phenylalanine, tyrosine, methionine and tryptophan; and

(b) The C-terminal amino acid is selected from the group consisting ofphenylalanine, leucine, isoleucine, tryptophan and methionine,

[9] The isolated peptide of [7], which consists of an amino acidsequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 26 to 48,wherein the peptide has one or both of the following characteristics:

(a) The second amino acid from the N-terminus is selected from the groupconsisting of phenylalanine, tyrosine, methionine and tryptophan; and

(b) The C-terminal amino acid is selected from the group consisting ofphenylalanine, leucine, isoleucine, tryptophan and methionine,

[10] The isolated peptide of any one of [1] to [9], wherein said peptideis nonapeptide or decapeptide,

[11] An isolated polynucleotide encoding the peptide of any one of [1]to [10],

[12] A composition for inducing CTL, wherein the composition comprisesone or more peptide(s) of any one of [1] to [10], or one or morepolynucleotide(s) of [11],

[13] A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment and/or prophylaxisof cancers, and/or the prevention of a postoperative recurrence thereof,wherein the composition comprises one or more peptide(s) of any one of[1] to [10], or one or more polynucleotides of [11],

[14] The pharmaceutical composition of [13], wherein said composition isformulated for the administration to a subject whose HLA antigen isHLA-A24,

[15] The pharmaceutical composition of [13], wherein said composition isformulated for the administration to a subject whose HLA antigen isHLA-A2,

[16] The pharmaceutical composition of [13] to [15], wherein saidcomposition is formulated for the treatment of cancer,

[17] A method for inducing an antigen-presenting cell (APC) with CTLinducibility comprising a step selected from the group consisting of:

(a) contacting an APC with a peptide of any one of [1] to [10] in vitro,ex vivo or in vivo, and

(b) introducing a polynucleotide encoding the peptide of any one of [1]to [10] into an APC,

[18] A method for inducing CTL by a method that comprises a stepselected from the group consisting of:

(a) co-culturing CD8 positive T cells with APCs that present on thesurface a complex of an HLA antigen and the peptide of any one of [1] to[10];

(b) co-culturing CD8 positive T cells with exosomes that presents on thesurface a complex of an HLA antigen and a peptide of any one of [1] to[10]; and

(c) introducing a gene that comprises a polynucleotide encoding a T cellreceptor (TCR) subunit polypeptide bound to a peptide of any one of [1]to [10] into a T cell,

[19] An isolated APC that presents on its surface a complex of an HLAantigen and the peptide of any one of [1] to [10],

[20] The APC of [19], which is induced by the method of [17],

[21] An isolated CTL that targets any of the peptides of [1] to [10],

[22] A CTL of [21] induced by the method of [18],

[23] A method of inducing an immune response against cancer in a subjectin need thereof, said method comprising the step of administering to thesubject a composition comprising a peptide of [1] to [10], animmunologically active fragment thereof, or a polynucleotide encodingthe peptide or the fragment,

[24] An antibody or immunologically active fragment thereof against anyof the peptides of [1] to [10],

[25] A vector comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding any of thepeptides of [1] to [10],

[26] A diagnostic kit comprising any of the peptides of [1] to [10], thenucleotide of [1] or the antibody of [24],

[27] The isolated peptide of any one of [1], [2], [4], [6], [8], and[10], wherein the peptide consists of the amino acid sequence selectedfrom the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 3, 4, 7, 18 and 23,

[28] The isolated peptide of any one of [1], [3], [5], [7], [9], and[10], wherein the peptide consists of the amino acid sequence selectedfrom the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 26, 27, 30, 31, 32, 35, 37, 38and 43,

[29] An exosome that presents a complex comprising any of the peptidesof [1] to [10] and an HLA antigen, and

[30] A host cell transformed or transfected with an expression vectoraccording to [25].

It is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the presentinvention and the following detailed description are of exemplifiedembodiments, and not restrictive of the present invention or otheralternate embodiments of the present invention.

In addition to the above, other objects and features of the inventionwill become more fully apparent when the following detailed descriptionis read in conjunction with the accompanying figures and examples.However, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of theinvention and the following detailed description are of exemplifiedembodiments, and not restrictive of the invention or other alternateembodiments of the invention. In particular, while the invention isdescribed herein with reference to a number of specific embodiments, itwill be appreciated that the description is illustrative of theinvention and is not constructed as limiting of the invention. Variousmodifications and applications may occur to those who are skilled in theart, without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention,as described by the appended claims. Likewise, other objects, features,benefits and advantages of the present invention will be apparent fromthis summary and certain embodiments described below, and will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such objects, features,benefits and advantages will be apparent from the above in conjunctionwith the accompanying examples, data, figures and all reasonableinferences to be drawn therefrom, alone or with consideration of thereferences incorporated herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Various aspects and applications of the present invention will becomeapparent to the skilled artisan upon consideration of the briefdescription of the figures and the detailed description of the presentinvention and its preferred embodiments which follows.

FIG. 1 is composed of a series of photographs, (a)-(f), depicting theresults of IFN-gamma ELISPOT assays on CTLs that were induced withpeptides derived from HJURP. The CTLs in well number #4 stimulated withHJURP-A24-9-28 (SEQ ID NO: 3) (a), in #4 with HJURP-A24-9-263 (SEQ IDNO: 4) (b), in #4 with HJURP-A24-9-408 (SEQ ID NO: 7) (c), in #6 withHJURP-A24-10-383 (SEQ ID NO: 18) (d) and in #4 with HJURP-A24-10-162(SEQ ID NO: 23) (e), showed potent IFN-gamma production compared withthe control, respectively. The square on the well of these picturesindicates that the cells from corresponding well were expanded toestablish CTL lines. In contrast, as is the typical case for negativedata, no specific IFN-gamma production was detected from the CTLstimulated with HJURP-A24-9-149 (SEQ ID NO: 1) against peptide-pulsedtarget cells (f). The square on the well of these pictures indicatedthat the cells from corresponding well were expanded to establish CTLlines. In the figures, “+” indicates the IFN-gamma production againsttarget cells pulsed with the appropriate peptide, and “−” indicates theIFN-gamma production against target cells not pulsed with any peptides.

FIG. 2 is composed of a series of line graphs, (a) and (b), depictingthe results of an IFN-gamma ELISA assay that, in turn, demonstrates theIFN-gamma production of CTL lines stimulated with HJURP-A24-9-263 (SEQID NO: 4) (a) and HJURP-A24-9-408 (SEQ ID NO: 7) (b). The resultsdemonstrate that CTL lines established by stimulation with each peptideshow potent IFN-gamma production as compared with the control. In thefigures, “+” indicates the IFN-gamma production against target cellspulsed with the appropriate peptide and “−” indicates the IFN-gammaproduction against target cells not pulsed with any peptides.

FIG. 3 is a line graph depicting the IFN-gamma production of a CTL cloneestablished by limiting dilution from the CTL line stimulated withHJURP-A24-9-408 (SEQ ID NO: 7). The results demonstrate that the CTLclone established by stimulation with HJURP-A24-9-408 (SEQ ID NO: 7)show potent IFN-gamma production compared with the control. In thefigure, “+” indicates the IFN-gamma production against target cellspulsed with the each peptide and “−” indicates the IFN-gamma productionagainst target cells not pulsed with any peptides.

FIG. 4 is composed of a series of line graphs, (a) and (b), depictingspecific CTL activity against the target cells that exogenously expressHJURP and HLA-A*2402. COS7 cells transfected with HLA-A*2402 or with thefull length HJURP gene were prepared as controls. The CTL lineestablished with HJURP-A24-9-408 (SEQ ID NO: 7) (a) and HJURP-A24-9-263(SEQ ID NO: 4) (b) showed specific CTL activity against COS7 cellstransfected with both HJURP and HLA-A*2402 (black lozenge). On the otherhand, no significant specific CTL activity was detected against targetcells expressing either HLA-A*2402 (triangle) or HJURP (circle).

FIG. 5 is composed of a series of photographs, (a)-(i), depicting theresults of IFN-gamma ELISPOT assays on CTLs that were induced withpeptides derived from HJURP. The CTLs in well number #4 stimulated withHJURP-A02-9-496 (SEQ ID NO: 26) (a), in #2 with HJURP-A02-9-354 (SEQ IDNO: 27) (b), in #4 with HJURP-A02-9-406 (SEQ ID NO: 30) (c), in #5 withHJURP-A02-9-129 (SEQ ID NO: 31) (d), in #3 with HJURP-A02-9-599 (SEQ IDNO:32) (e), and in #1 with HJURP-A02-9-386 (SEQ ID NO: 35) (f) showedpotent IFN-gamma production compared with the control, respectively. Thesquare on the well of these pictures indicates that the cells fromcorresponding well were expanded to establish CTL lines. In contrast, asis the typical case with negative data, no specific IFN-gamma productionwas detected from the CTL stimulated with HJURP-A02-9-150 (SEQ ID NO:25) (j). In the figures, “+” indicates the IFN-gamma production againsttarget cells pulsed with the appropriate peptide, and “−” indicates theIFN-gamma production against target cells not pulsed with any peptides.

FIG. 5-2 is composed of a series of photographs, (a)-(i), depicting theresults of IFN-gamma ELISPOT assays on CTLs that were induced withpeptides derived from HJURP. The CTLs in #5 with HJURP-A02-10-405 (SEQID NO: 37) (g), in #3 with HJURP-A02-10-128 (SEQ ID NO: 38) (h) and in#6 with HJURP-A02-10-54 (SEQ ID NO: 43) (i) showed potent IFN-gammaproduction compared with the control, respectively. The square on thewell of these pictures indicates that the cells from corresponding wellwere expanded to establish CTL lines. In contrast, as is the typicalcase with negative data, no specific IFN-gamma production was detectedfrom the CTL stimulated with HJURP-A02-9-150 (SEQ ID NO: 25) (j). In thefigures, “+” indicates the IFN-gamma production against target cellspulsed with the appropriate peptide, and “−” indicates the IFN-gammaproduction against target cells not pulsed with any peptides.

FIG. 6 is composed of a series of line graphs, (a)-(e), depicting theresults of an IFN-gamma ELISA assay demonstrating the IFN-gammaproduction of the CTL lines stimulated with HJURP-A02-9-496 (SEQ ID NO:26) (a), HJURP-A02-9-406 (SEQ ID NO: 30) (b), HJURP-A02-9-129 (SEQ IDNO: 31) (c), HJURP-A02-10-405 (SEQ ID NO: 37) (d) and HJURP-A02-10-128(SEQ ID NO: 38) (e). The results demonstrate that CTL lines establishedby stimulation with each peptide show potent IFN-gamma production ascompared with the control. In the figures, “+” indicates the IFN-gammaproduction against target cells pulsed with the appropriate peptide and“−” indicates the IFN-gamma production against target cells not pulsedwith any peptides.

FIG. 7 is composed of a series of line graphs, (a)-(d), depicting theIFN-gamma production of the CTL clones established by limiting dilutionfrom the CTL lines stimulated with HJURP-A02-9-406 (SEQ ID NO: 30) (a),HJURP-A02-9-129 (SEQ ID NO: 31) (b), HJURP-A02-10-405 (SEQ ID NO: 37)(c) and HJURP-A02-10-128 (SEQ ID NO: 38) (d). The results demonstratethat the CTL clones established by stimulation with each peptide showedpotent IFN-gamma production compared with the control. In the figure,“+” indicates the IFN-gamma production against target cells pulsed withthe each peptide and “−” indicates the IFN-gamma production againsttarget cells not pulsed with any peptides.

FIG. 8 is composed of a series of line graphs depicting specific CTLactivity against the target cells that exogenously express HJURP andHLA-A*0201. COS7 cells transfected with HLA-A*0201 or the full length ofHJURP gene were prepared as controls. The CTL clone established withHJURP-A02-10-128 (SEQ ID NO: 38) showed specific CTL activity againstCOS7 cells transfected with both HJURP and HLA-A*0201 (black lozenge).On the other hand, no significant specific CTL activity was detectedagainst target cells expressing either HLA-A*0201 (triangle) or HJURP(circle).

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to thosedescribed herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodimentsof the present invention, the preferred materials, methods, and devicesare now described. However, before the present materials and methods aredescribed, it should be understood that these descriptions are merelyillustrative only and not intended to be limiting. It should also beunderstood that the present invention is not limited to the particularsizes, shapes, dimensions, materials, methodologies, protocols, etc.described herein, as these may vary in accordance with routineexperimentation and/or optimization. Furthermore, the terminology usedin the description is for the purpose of describing the particularversions or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope ofthe present invention which will be limited only by the appended claims.

The disclosure of each publication, patent or patent applicationmentioned in this specification is specifically incorporated byreference herein in its entirety. However, nothing herein is to beconstrued as an admission that the invention is not entitled to antedatesuch disclosure by virtue or prior invention.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which the present invention belongs. In case of conflict, thepresent specification, including definitions, will control. In addition,the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and notintended to be limiting.

I. DEFINITIONS

The words “a”, “an”, and “the” as used herein mean “at least one” unlessotherwise specifically indicated.

The terms “polypeptide”, “peptide” and “protein” are usedinterchangeably herein to refer to a polymer of amino acid residues. Theterms apply to amino acid polymers in which one or more amino acidresidue(s) may be modified residue(s), or non-naturally occurringresidue(s), such as artificial chemical mimetic(s) of correspondingnaturally occurring amino acid(s), as well as to naturally occurringamino acid polymers.

The term “oligopeptide” sometimes used in the present specification isused to refer to peptides of the present invention which are 20 residuesor fewer, typically 15 residues or fewer in length and is typicallycomposed of between about 8 and about 11 residues, often 9 or 10residues

The term “amino acid” as used herein refers to naturally occurring andsynthetic amino acids, as well as amino acid analogs and amino acidmimetics that similarly function to the naturally occurring amino acids.Amino acid may be either L-amino acids or D-amino acids. Naturallyoccurring amino acids are those encoded by the genetic code, as well asthose modified after translation in cells (e.g., hydroxyproline,gamma-carboxyglutamate, and O-phosphoserine). The phrase “amino acidanalog” refers to compounds that have the same basic chemical structure(an alpha carbon bound to a hydrogen, a carboxy group, an amino group,and an R group) as a naturally occurring amino acid but have one or moremodified R group(s) or modified backbones (e.g., homoserine, norleucine,methionine, sulfoxide, methionine methyl sulfonium). The phrase “aminoacid mimetic” refers to chemical compounds that have differentstructures but similar functions to general amino acids.

Amino acids may be referred to herein by their commonly known threeletter symbols or the one-letter symbols recommended by the IUPAC-IUBBiochemical Nomenclature Commission.

The terms “gene”, “polynucleotides”, “nucleotides” and “nucleic acids”are used interchangeably herein and, unless otherwise specificallyindicated are similarly to the amino acids referred to by their commonlyaccepted single-letter codes.

The terms “agent”, “substance” and “composition” are usedinterchangeably herein to refer to a product that includes the specifiedingredients in the specified amounts, as well as any product thatresults, directly or indirectly, from combination of the specifiedingredients in the specified amounts. Such terms in relation to themodifier “pharmaceutical” are intended to encompass a product thatincludes the active ingredient(s), and any inert ingredient(s) that makeup the carrier, as well as any product that results, directly orindirectly, from combination, complexation or aggregation of any two ormore of the ingredients, or from dissociation of one or more of theingredients, or from other types of reactions or interactions of one ormore of the ingredients. Accordingly, in the context of the presentinvention, the terms “pharmaceutical agent” and “pharmaceuticalcomposition” are used interchangeably to refer to any agent, substanceor composition made by admixing a product of the present invention and apharmaceutically or physiologically acceptable carrier.

The phrase “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” or “physiologicallyacceptable carrier”, as used herein, means a pharmaceutically orphysiologically acceptable material, composition, substance or vehicle,including but not limited to, a liquid or solid filler, diluent,excipient, solvent or encapsulating material, involved in carrying ortransporting the subject scaffolded polypharmacophores from one organ,or portion of the body, to another organ, or portion of the body.

The pharmaceutical agents or compositions of the present invention findparticular use as vaccines. In the context of the present invention, thephrase “vaccine” (also referred to as an “immunogenic composition”)refers to a substance that has the function to induce anti-tumorimmunity upon inoculation into animals.

Unless otherwise defined, the term “cancer” refers to the cancersoverexpressing HJURP gene, examples of which include, but are notlimited to, AML, bladder cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer,cholangiocellular carcinoma, CML, colorectal cancer, esophagus cancer,Diffused-type gastric cancer, liver cancer, NSCLC, lymphoma,osteosarcoma, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, renalcarcinoma, SCLC, soft tissue tumor and testicular tumor.

Unless otherwise defined, the terms “cytotoxic T lymphocyte”, “cytotoxicT cell” and “CTL” are used interchangeably herein and unless otherwisespecifically indicated, refer to a sub-group of T lymphocytes that arecapable of recognizing non-self cells (e.g., tumor/cancer cells,virus-infected cells) and inducing the death of such cells.

Unless otherwise defined, the terms “HLA-A24” refers to the HLA-A24 typecontaining the subtypes, examples of which include, but are not limitedto, HLA-A*2401, HLA-A*2402, HLA-A*2403, HLA-A*2404, HLA-A*2407,HLA-A*2408, HLA-A*2420, HLA-A*2425 and HLA-A*2488.

Unless otherwise defined, the term “HLA-A2”, as used herein,representatively refers to the subtypes, examples of which include, butare not limited to, HLA-A*0201, HLA-A*0202, HLA-A*0203, HLA-A*0204,HLA-A*0205, HLA-A*0206, HLA-A*0207, HLA-A*0210, HLA-A*0211, HLA-A*0213,HLA-A*0216, HLA-A*0218, HLA-A*0219, HLA-A*0228 and HLA-A*0250.

Unless otherwise defined, the term “kit” as used herein, is used inreference to a combination of reagents and other materials. It iscontemplated herein that the kit may include microarray, chip, marker,and so on. It is not intended that the term “kit” be limited to aparticular combination of reagents and/or materials.

As used herein, in the context of a subject or patient, the phrase“HLA-A2 positive” refers to that the subject or patient homozygously orheterozygously possess HLA-A2 antigen gene, and HLA-A2 antigen isexpressed in cells of the subject or patient as an HLA antigen.

Similarly, as used herein, in the context of a subject or patient, thephrase “HLA-A24 positive” also refers to that the subject or patienthomozygously or heterozygously possess HLA-A24 antigen gene, and HLA-A24antigen is expressed in cells of the subject or patient as an HLAantigen.

To the extent that the methods and compositions of the present inventionfind utility in the context of the “treatment” of cancer, a treatment isdeemed “efficacious” if it leads to clinical benefit such as, reductionin expression of HJURP gene, or a decrease in size, prevalence, ormetastatic potential of the cancer in the subject. When the treatment isapplied prophylactically, “efficacious” means that it retards orprevents cancers from forming or prevents or alleviates a clinicalsymptom of cancer. Efficaciousness is determined in association with anyknown method for diagnosing or treating the particular tumor type.

To the extent that the materials and methods of the present inventionfind utility in the context of the “prevention” and “prophylaxis” ofcancer, such terms are interchangeably used herein to refer to anyactivity that reduces the burden of mortality or morbidity from disease.Prevention and prophylaxis can occur “at primary, secondary and tertiaryprevention levels.” While primary prevention and prophylaxis avoid thedevelopment of a disease, secondary and tertiary levels of preventionand prophylaxis encompass activities aimed at the prevention andprophylaxis of the progression of a disease and the emergence ofsymptoms as well as reducing the negative impact of an alreadyestablished disease by restoring function and reducing disease-relatedcomplications. Alternatively, prevention and prophylaxis can include awide range of prophylactic therapies aimed at alleviating the severityof the particular disorder, e.g. reducing the proliferation andmetastasis of tumors.

In the context of the present invention, the treatment and/orprophylaxis of cancer and/or the prevention of postoperative recurrencethereof include any of the following steps, such as the surgical removalof cancer cells, the inhibition of the growth of cancerous cells, theinvolution or regression of a tumor, the induction of remission andsuppression of occurrence of cancer, the tumor regression, and thereduction or inhibition of metastasis. Effective treatment and/or theprophylaxis of cancer decreases mortality and improves the prognosis ofindividuals having cancer, decreases the levels of tumor markers in theblood, and alleviates detectable symptoms accompanying cancer. Forexample, reduction or improvement of symptoms constitutes effectivelytreating and/or the prophylaxis include 10%, 20%, 30% or more reduction,or stable disease.

In the context of the present invention, the term “antibody” refers toimmunoglobulins and fragments thereof that are specifically reactive toa designated protein or peptide thereof. An antibody can include humanantibodies, primatized antibodies, chimeric antibodies, bispecificantibodies, humanized antibodies, antibodies fused to other proteins orradiolabels, and antibody fragments. Furthermore, an antibody herein isused in the broadest sense and specifically covers intact monoclonalantibodies, polyclonal antibodies, multispecific antibodies (e.g.bispecific antibodies) formed from at least two intact antibodies, andantibody fragments so long as they exhibit the desired biologicalactivity. An “antibody” indicates all classes (e.g. IgA, IgD, IgE, IgGand IgM).

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which the present invention belongs.

II. PEPTIDES

To demonstrate that peptides derived from HJURP function as an antigenrecognized by CTLs, peptides derived from HJURP (SEQ ID NO: 50) wereanalyzed to determine whether they were antigen epitopes restricted byHLA-A24 or A2 which are commonly encountered HLA alleles (Date Y et al.,Tissue Antigens 47: 93-101, 1996; Kondo A et al., J Immunol 155:4307-12, 1995; Kubo R T et al., J Immunol 152: 3913-24, 1994).

Candidates of HLA-A24 binding peptides derived from HJURP wereidentified using the information on their binding affinities to HLA-A24.The following candidate peptide were identified”

HJURP-A24-9-576 (SEQ ID NO: 2),

HJURP-A24-9-28 (SEQ ID NO: 3),

HJURP-A24-9-263 (SEQ ID NO: 4),

HJURP-A24-9-403 (SEQ ID NO: 5),

HJURP-A24-9-388 (SEQ ID NO: 6),

HJURP-A24-9-408 (SEQ ID NO: 7),

HJURP-A24-9-544 (SEQ ID NO: 8),

HJURP-A24-9-280 (SEQ ID NO: 9),

HJURP-A24-10-149 (SEQ ID NO: 10),

HJURP-A24-10-395 (SEQ ID NO: 11),

HJURP-A24-10-729 (SEQ ID NO: 12),

HJURP-A24-10-56 (SEQ ID NO: 13),

HJURP-A24-10-590 (SEQ ID NO: 14),

HJURP-A24-10-635 (SEQ ID NO: 15),

HJURP-A24-10-389 (SEQ ID NO: 16),

HJURP-A24-10-28 (SEQ ID NO: 17),

HJURP-A24-10-383 (SEQ ID NO: 18),

HJURP-A24-10-379 (SEQ ID NO: 19),

HJURP-A24-10-235 (SEQ ID NO: 20),

HJURP-A24-10-218 (SEQ ID NO: 21),

HJURP-A24-10-388 (SEQ ID NO: 22),

HJURP-A24-10-162 (SEQ ID NO: 23), and

HJURP-A24-10-627 (SEQ ID NO: 24).

Moreover, after in vitro stimulation of T-cells by dendritic cells (DCs)pulsed (loaded) with these peptides, CTLs were successfully establishedby stimulating the DCs with each of the following peptides:

HJURP-A24-9-28 (SEQ ID NO: 3),

HJURP-A24-9-263 (SEQ ID NO: 4),

HJURP-A24-9-408 (SEQ ID NO: 7),

HJURP-A24-10-383 (SEQ ID NO: 18), and

HJURP-A24-10-162 (SEQ ID NO: 23).

These established CTLs showed potent specific CTL activity againsttarget cells pulsed with respective peptides. These results demonstratethat HJURP is an antigen recognized by CTLs and that the peptides testedare epitope peptides of HJURP restricted by HLA-A24.

Candidates of HLA-A2 binding peptides derived from HJURP were identifiedbased on their binding affinities to HLA-A2. The following candidatepeptides were identified:

HJURP-A2-9-496 (SEQ ID NO: 26),

HJURP-A2-9-354 (SEQ ID NO: 27),

HJURP-A2-9-266 (SEQ ID NO: 28),

HJURP-A2-9-51 (SEQ ID NO: 29),

HJURP-A2-9-406 (SEQ ID NO: 30),

HJURP-A2-9-129 (SEQ ID NO: 31),

HJURP-A2-9-599 (SEQ ID NO: 32),

HJURP-A2-9-226 (SEQ ID NO: 33),

HJURP-A2-9-274 (SEQ ID NO: 34),

HJURP-A2-9-386 (SEQ ID NO: 35),

HJURP-A2-9-244 (SEQ ID NO: 36),

HJURP-A2-10-405 (SEQ ID NO: 37),

HJURP-A2-10-128 (SEQ ID NO: 38),

HJURP-A2-10-649 (SEQ ID NO: 39),

HJURP-A2-10-273 (SEQ ID NO: 40),

HJURP-A2-10-266 (SEQ ID NO: 41),

HJURP-A2-10-598 (SEQ ID NO: 42),

HJURP-A2-10-54 (SEQ ID NO: 43),

HJURP-A2-10-731 (SEQ ID NO: 44),

HJURP-A2-10-397 (SEQ ID NO: 45),

HJURP-A2-10-157 (SEQ ID NO: 46),

HJURP-A2-10-455 (SEQ ID NO: 47) and

HJURP-A2-10-156 (SEQ ID NO: 48).

Moreover, after in vitro stimulation of T-cells by dendritic cells (DCs)pulsed (loaded) with these peptides, CTLs were successfully establishedusing each of the following peptides;

HJURP-A2-9-496 (SEQ ID NO: 26),

HJURP-A2-9-354 (SEQ ID NO: 27),

HJURP-A2-9-406 (SEQ ID NO: 30),

HJURP-A2-9-129 (SEQ ID NO: 31),

HJURP-A2-9-599 (SEQ ID NO: 32),

HJURP-A2-9-386 (SEQ ID NO: 35),

HJURP-A2-10-405 (SEQ ID NO: 37),

HJURP-A2-10-128 (SEQ ID NO: 38), and

HJURP-A2-10-54 (SEQ ID NO: 43).

These established CTLs showed potent specific CTL activity againsttarget cells pulsed with respective peptides. These results demonstratethat HJURP is an antigen recognized by CTLs and that the peptides testedare epitope peptides of HJURP restricted by HLA-A2.

Since the HJURP gene is over expressed in cancer cells such as AML,bladder cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, cholangiocellularcarcinoma, CML, colorectal cancer, esophagus cancer, Diffused-typegastric cancer, liver cancer, NSCLC, lymphoma, osteosarcoma, ovariancancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, renal carcinoma, SCLC, softtissue tumor and testicular tumor and not expressed in most normalorgans, it is a good target for cancer immunotherapy. Thus, the presentinvention provides nonapeptides (peptides composed of nine amino acidresidues) and decapeptides (peptides composed of ten amino acidresidues) of CTL-recognized epitopes from HJURP. Alternatively, thepresent invention provides isolated peptides which bind to HLA antigensand induce cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), wherein the peptide has anamino acid sequence selected from among of SEQ ID NO: 50 or is animmunologically active fragment thereof. More specifically, in someembodiments, the present invention provides peptides having an aminoacid sequence selected from among SEQ ID NOs: 2 to 24 and 26 to 48.

Generally, software programs now available, for example, on theInternet, such as those described in Parker K C et al., J Immunol 1994Jan. 1, 152(1): 163-75 and Nielsen M et al., Protein Sci 2003; 12:1007-17 can be used to calculate the binding affinities between variouspeptides and HLA antigens in silico. Binding affinity with HLA antigenscan be measured as described, for example, in Parker K C et al., JImmunol 1994 Jan. 1, 152(1): 163-75, Kuzushima K et al., Blood 2001,98(6): 1872-81, Larsen M V et al. BMC Bioinformatics. 2007 Oct. 31; 8:424, Buus S et al. Tissue Antigens., 62:378-84, 2003, Nielsen M et al.,Protein Sci 2003; 12: 1007-17, and Nielsen M et al. PLoS ONE 2007; 2:e796, which are summarized in, e.g., Lafuente E M et al., CurrentPharmaceutical Design, 2009, 15, 3209-3220. Methods for determiningbinding affinity are described, for example, in the Journal ofImmunological Methods (1995, 185: 181-190) and Protein Science (2000, 9:1838-1846). Therefore, one can use such software programs to selectthose fragments derived from HJURP that have high binding affinity withHLA antigens. Accordingly, the present invention encompasses peptidescomposed of any fragments derived from HJURP, which would be determinedto bind with HLA antigens by such known programs. Furthermore, suchpeptides may include the peptide composed of the full length of HJURP.

The peptides of the present invention, particularly the nonapeptides anddecapeptides of the present invention, may be flanked with additionalamino acid residues so long as the peptides retain their CTLinducibility. The particular additional amino acid residues may becomposed of any kind of amino acids so long as they do not impair theCTL inducibility of the original peptide. Thus, the present inventionencompasses peptides having a binding affinity for HLA antigens,including peptides derived from HJURP. Such peptides are, for example,less than about 40 amino acids, often less than about 20 amino acids,usually less than about 15 amino acids.

Generally, it is known that modifications of one or more amino acids ina peptide do not influence the function of the peptide, or in some caseseven enhance the desired function of the original protein. In fact,modified peptides (i.e., peptides composed of an amino acid sequencemodified by substituting, deleting, inserting, or adding one, two orseveral amino acid residues to an original reference sequence) have beenknown to retain the biological activity of the original peptide (Mark etal., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 198, 81: 5662-6; Zoller and Smith, NucleicAcids Res 1982, 10: 6487-500; Dalbadie-McFarland et al., Proc Natl AcadSci USA 1982, 79: 6409-13). Thus, according to one embodiment of thepresent invention, the peptide having CTL inducibility of the presentinvention may be composed of a peptide having an amino acid sequenceselected from among SEQ ID NOs: 2 to 24 and 26 to 48, wherein one, twoor even more amino acids are added, deleted and/or substituted.

Those of skill in the art will recognize that individual additions,deletions, insertions, or substitutions to an amino acid sequence thatalters a single amino acid or a small percentage of amino acids resultsin the conservation of the properties of the original amino acidside-chain; it is thus referred to as “conservative substitution” or“conservative modification”, wherein the alteration of a protein resultsin a protein with similar functions. Conservative substitution tablesproviding functionally similar amino acids are well known in the art.Examples of properties of amino acid side chains are hydrophobic aminoacids (A, I, L, M, F, P, W, Y, V), hydrophilic amino acids (R, D, N, C,E, Q, G, H, K, S, T), and side chains having the following functionalgroups or characteristics in common: an aliphatic side-chain (G, A, V,L, I, P); a hydroxyl group containing side-chain (S, T, Y); a sulfuratom containing side-chain (C, M); a carboxylic acid and amidecontaining side-chain (D, N, E, Q); a base containing side-chain (R, K,H); and an aromatic group containing side-chain (H, F, Y, W). Inaddition, the following eight groups each contain amino acids that areconservative substitutions for one another:

1) Alanine (A), Glycine (G);

2) Aspartic acid (D), Glutamic acid (E);

3) Asparagine (N), Glutamine (Q);

4) Arginine (R), Lysine (K);

5) Isoleucine (I), Leucine (L), Methionine (M), Valine (V);

6) Phenylalanine (F), Tyrosine (Y), Tryptophan (W);

7) Serine (S), Threonine (T); and

8) Cysteine (C), Methionine (M) (see, e.g., Creighton, Proteins 1984).

Such conservatively modified peptides are also considered to be peptidesof the present invention. However, the peptide of the present inventionis not restricted thereto and may include non-conservativemodifications, so long as the resulting modified peptide retains the CTLinducibility of the original peptide. Furthermore, the modified peptidesshould not exclude CTL inducible peptides of polymorphic variants,interspecies homologues, and alleles of HJURP.

Amino acid residues may be inserted, substituted or added to thepeptides of the present invention or, alternatively, amino acid residuesmay be deleted there from to achieve a higher binding affinity. Toretain the requisite CTL inducibility, one preferably modifies (inserts,deletes, adds and/or substitutes) only a small number (for example, 1, 2or several) or a small percentage of amino acids. Herein, the term“several” means 5 or fewer amino acids, for example, 4 or 3 or fewer.The percentage of amino acids to be modified may be 20% or less, forexample, 15% or less, even more preferably 10% or less, for example 1 to5%.

When used in cancer immunotherapy, the present peptides are presented onthe surface of a cell or exosome as a complex with an HLA antigen.Therefore, it is preferable to select peptides that not only induce CTLsbut also possess high binding affinity to the HLA antigen. To that end,the peptides can be modified by substitution, insertion, and/or additionof the amino acid residues to yield a modified peptide having improvedbinding affinity. In addition to peptides that are naturally displayed,since the regularity of the sequences of peptides displayed by bindingto HLA antigens has already been known (J Immunol 1994, 152: 3913;Immunogenetics 1995, 41: 178; J Immunol 1994, 155: 4307), modificationsbased on such regularity may be introduced into the immunogenic peptidesof the present invention.

For example, peptides possessing high HLA-A24 binding affinity tend tohave the second amino acid from the N-terminus substituted withphenylalanine, tyrosine, methionine, or tryptophan. Likewise, peptidesin which the C-terminal amino acid is substituted with phenylalanine,leucine, isoleucine, tryptophan, or methionine can also be favorablyused. Thus, peptides having an amino acid sequence selected from amongSEQ ID NOs: 2 to 24 wherein the second amino acid from the N-terminus ofthe amino acid sequence of the SEQ ID NO is substituted withphenylalanine, tyrosine, methionine, or tryptophan, and peptides, and/orwherein the C-terminus of the amino acid sequence of the SEQ ID NO issubstituted with phenylalanine, leucine, isoleucine, tryptophan, ormethionine are encompassed by the present invention.

Alternatively, in, peptides showing high HLA-A2 binding affinity, it maybe desirable to substitute the second amino acid from the N-terminuswith leucine or methionine or the amino acid at the C-terminus withvaline or leucine. Thus, peptides having amino acid sequences selectedfrom among SEQ ID NOs: 26 to 48 wherein the second amino acid from theN-terminus of the amino acid sequence of the SEQ ID NO is substitutedwith leucine or methionine, and peptides, and/or wherein the C-terminusof the amino acid sequence of the SEQ ID NO is substituted with valineor leucine are encompassed by the present invention.

Substitutions may be introduced not only at the terminal amino acids butalso at the position of potential T cell receptor (TCR) recognition ofpeptides. Several studies have demonstrated that a peptide with aminoacid substitutions may have equal to or better function than that of theoriginal, for example, CAP1, p53₍₂₆₄₋₂₇₂₎, Her-2/neu₍₃₆₉₋₃₇₇₎ orgp100₍₂₀₉₋₂₁₇₎ (Zaremba et al. Cancer Res. 57, 4570-4577, 1997, T. K.Hoffmann et al. J. Immunol. (2002) Feb. 1; 168(3):1338-47., S. O. Dionneet al. Cancer Immunol immunother. (2003) 52: 199-206 and S. O. Dionne etal. Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy (2004) 53, 307-314).

The present invention also contemplates the addition of one, two orseveral amino acids to the N and/or C-terminus of the present peptides.Such modified peptides having high HLA antigen binding affinity andretained CTL inducibility are also included in the present invention.For example, the present invention provides an isolated peptide of lessthan 14, 13, 12, 11, or 10 amino acids in length comprising the aminoacid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

(i) an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ IDNOs: 2 to 9, and 26 to 36, wherein 1, 2, or several amino acid(s) aresubstituted, wherein the peptide binds an HLA antigen and inducescytotoxic T lymphocytes, and

(ii) the amino acid sequence of (i), wherein the amino acid sequence hasone or both of the following characteristics:

(a) the second amino acid from the N-terminus of said SEQ ID NO isselected from the group consisting of leucine or methionine; and

(b) the C-terminal amino acid of said SEQ ID NO is selected from thegroup consisting of valine or leucine.

Moreover, the present invention also provides an isolated peptide ofless than 15, 14, 13, 12, or 11 amino acids in length comprising theamino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

(i′) an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ IDNOs: 10 to 24, and 37 to 48, wherein 1, 2, or several amino acid(s) aresubstituted, wherein the peptide binds an HLA antigen and inducescytotoxic T lymphocytes, and

(ii′) the amino acid sequence of (i′), wherein the amino acid sequencehas one or both of the following characteristics:

(a) the second amino acid from the N-terminus of said SEQ ID NO isselected from the group consisting of leucine or methionine; and

(b) the C-terminal amino acid of said SEQ ID NO is selected from thegroup consisting of valine or leucine.

These peptides are processed in APC to present a peptide of (i), (ii),(i′), and (ii′) thereon, when these peptides are contacted with, orintroduced in APC.

However, when the peptide sequence is identical to a portion of theamino acid sequence of an endogenous or exogenous protein having adifferent function, side effects such as autoimmune disorders orallergic symptoms against specific substances may be induced. Therefore,one can perform homology searches using available databases to avoidsituations in which the sequence of the peptide matches the amino acidsequence of another protein. When it becomes clear from the homologysearches that there exists not even a peptide with 1 or 2 amino acidsdifference to the objective peptide, the objective peptide may bemodified in order to increase its binding affinity with HLA antigens,and/or increase its CTL inducibility without any danger of such sideeffects.

Although peptides having high binding affinity to the HLA antigens asdescribed above are expected to be highly effective, the candidatepeptides, which are selected according to the presence of high bindingaffinity as an indicator, are further examined for the presence of CTLinducibility. Herein, the phrase “CTL inducibility” indicates theability of the peptide to induce CTLs when presented onantigen-presenting cells (APCs). Further, “CTL inducibility” includesthe ability of the peptide to induce CTL activation, CTL proliferation,promote CTL lysis of target cells, and to increase CTL IFN-gammaproduction.

Confirmation of CTL inducibility is accomplished by inducing APCscarrying human MHC antigens (for example, B-lymphocytes, macrophages,and dendritic cells (DCs)), or more specifically DCs derived from humanperipheral blood mononuclear leukocytes, and after stimulation with thepeptides, mixing with CD8 positive cells, and then measuring theIFN-gamma produced and released by CTL against the target cells. As thereaction system, transgenic animals that have been produced to express ahuman HLA antigen (for example, those described in BenMohamed L,Krishnan R, Longmate J, Auge C, Low L, Primus J, Diamond D J, HumImmunol 2000 August, 61(8): 764-79, Related Articles, Books, LinkoutInduction of CTL response by a minimal epitope vaccine in HLA A*0201/DR1transgenic mice: dependent on MHC (HLA) class II restricted T(H)response) can be used. For example, the target cells may be radiolabeledwith ⁵¹Cr and such, and cytotoxic activity may be calculated fromradioactivity released from the target cells. Alternatively, it may beexamined by measuring IFN-gamma produced and released by CTL in thepresence of APCs that carry immobilized peptides, and visualizing theinhibition zone on the media using anti-IFN-gamma monoclonal antibodies.

As a result of examining the CTL inducibility of the peptides asdescribed above, it was discovered that nonapeptides or decapeptidesselected from among those peptides having an amino acid sequenceindicated by SEQ ID NOs: 2 to 24 and 26 to 48 showed particularly highCTL inducibility as well as high binding affinity to an HLA antigen.Thus, these peptides are exemplified as preferred embodiments of thepresent invention.

Furthermore, homology analysis results demonstrated that such peptidesdo not have significant homology with peptides derived from any otherknown human gene products. This lowers the possibility of unknown orundesired immune responses arising when used for immunotherapy.Therefore, also from this aspect, these peptides are useful foreliciting immunity against HJURP in cancer patients. Thus, the peptidesof the present invention, preferably, peptides having an amino acidsequence selected from among SEQ ID NOs: 2 to 24 and 26 to 48.

In addition to modification of the present peptides, discussed above,the peptides of the present invention may be linked to other peptides,so long as the resulting linked peptide retains the requisite CTLinducibility of the original peptide and, more preferably, also retainthe requisite HLA binding. Exemplary “other” peptides include: thepeptides of the present invention or the CTL inducible peptides derivedfrom other TAAs. The linkers between the peptides are well known in theart, for example, AAY (P. M. Daftarian et al., J Trans Med 2007, 5:26),AAA, NKRK (R. P. M. Sutmuller et al., J. Immunol. 2000, 165: 7308-7315)or K (S. Ota et al., Can Res. 62, 1471-1476, K. S. Kawamura et al., J.Immunol. 2002, 168: 5709-5715).

For example, non-HJURP tumor associated antigen peptides also can beused substantially simultaneously to increase immune response via HLAclass I and/or class II. It is well established that cancer cells canexpress more than one tumor associated gene. It is within the scope ofroutine experimentation for one of ordinary skill in the art todetermine whether a particular subject expresses additional tumorassociated genes, and then to include HLA class I and/or HLA class IIbinding peptides derived from expression products of such genes in HJURPcompositions or vaccines according to the present invention.

Examples of HLA class I and HLA class II binding peptides will be knownto one of ordinary skill in the art (for example, see Coulie, Stem Cells13:393-403, 1995), and can be used in the invention in a like manner asthose disclosed herein. One of ordinary skill in the art can preparepolypeptides including one or more HJURP peptides and one or more of thenon-HJURP peptides, or nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides,according to standard procedures of molecular biology.

The above-linked peptides are referred to herein as “polytopes”, i.e.,groups of two or more potentially immunogenic or immune responsestimulating peptides which can be joined together in variousarrangements (e.g., concatenated, overlapping). The polytope (or nucleicacid encoding the polytope) can be administered in a standardimmunization protocol, e.g., to animals, to test the effectiveness ofthe polytope in stimulating, enhancing and/or provoking an immuneresponse.

The peptides can be joined together directly or via the use of flankingsequences to form polytopes, and the use of polytopes as vaccines iswell known in the art (see, e.g., Thomson et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.USA 92(13):5845-5849, 1995; Gilbert et al., Nature Biotechnol.15(12):1280-1284, 1997; Thomson et al., J. Immunol. 157(2):822-826,1996; Tarn et al., J. Exp. Med. 171(1):299-306, 1990). Polytopescontaining various numbers and combinations of epitopes can be preparedand tested for recognition by CTLs and for efficacy in increasing animmune response.

Furthermore, the peptides of the present invention may be further linkedto other substances, so long as they retain the CTL inducibility. Suchsubstances may include: peptides, lipids, sugar and sugar chains, acetylgroups, natural and synthetic polymers, etc. The peptides may containmodifications such as glycosylation, side chain oxidation, orphosphorylation; so long as the modifications do not destroy thebiological activity of the peptides as described herein. These kinds ofmodifications may be performed to confer additional functions (e.g.,targeting function, and delivery function) or to stabilize thepolypeptide.

For example, to increase the in vivo stability of a polypeptide, it isknown in the art to introduce D-amino acids, amino acid mimetics orunnatural amino acids; this concept may also be adopted for the presentpolypeptides. The stability of a polypeptide may be assayed in a numberof ways. For instance, peptidases and various biological media, such ashuman plasma and serum, can be used to test stability (see, e.g.,Verhoef et al., Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokin 1986, 11: 291-302).

Moreover, as noted above, among the modified peptides that aresubstituted, deleted or added by one, two or several amino acidresidues, those having same or higher activity as compared to originalpeptides can be screened for or selected. The present invention,therefore, also provides the method of screening for or selectingmodified peptides having same or higher activity as compared tooriginals. For example, the method may include steps of:

a: substituting, deleting or adding at least one amino acid residue of apeptide of the present invention,

b: determining the activity of the peptide, and

c: selecting the peptide having same or higher activity as compared tothe original.

Herein, the activity may include MHC binding activity, APC or CTLinducibility and cytotoxic activity.

Herein, the peptides of the present invention may also be described as“HJURP peptide(s)” or “HJURP polypeptide(s)”.

III. PREPARATION OF HJURP PEPTIDES

The peptides of the present invention may be prepared using well knowntechniques. For example, the peptides may be prepared synthetically, byrecombinant DNA technology or chemical synthesis. The peptides of thepresent invention may be synthesized individually or as longerpolypeptides including two or more peptides. The peptides may beisolated, i.e., purified or isolated substantially free from othernaturally occurring host cell proteins and fragments thereof, or anyother chemical substances.

The peptides of the present invention may contain modifications, such asglycosylation, side chain oxidation, or phosphorylation; provided suchmodifications do not destroy the biological activity of the originalpeptides. Other illustrative modifications include incorporation ofD-amino acids or other amino acid mimetics that may be used, forexample, to increase the serum half life of the peptides.

A peptide of the present invention may be obtained through chemicalsynthesis based on the selected amino acid sequence. For example,conventional peptide synthesis methods that may be adopted for thesynthesis include:

(i) Peptide Synthesis, Interscience, New York, 1966;

(ii) The Proteins, Vol. 2, Academic Press, New York, 1976;

(iii) Peptide Synthesis (in Japanese), Maruzen Co., 1975;

(iv) Basics and Experiment of Peptide Synthesis (in Japanese), MaruzenCo., 1985;

(v) Development of Pharmaceuticals (second volume) (in Japanese), Vol.14 (peptide synthesis), Hirokawa, 1991;

(vi) WO99/67288; and

(vii) Barany G. & Merrifield R. B., Peptides Vol. 2, “Solid PhasePeptide Synthesis”, Academic Press, New York, 1980, 100-118.

Alternatively, the present peptides may be obtained adopting any knowngenetic engineering methods for producing peptides (e.g., Morrison J, JBacteriology 1977, 132: 349-51; Clark-Curtiss & Curtiss, Methods inEnzymology (eds. Wu et al.) 1983, 101: 347-62). For example, first, asuitable vector harboring a polynucleotide encoding the objectivepeptide in an expressible form (e.g., downstream of a regulatorysequence corresponding to a promoter sequence) is prepared andtransformed into a suitable host cell. Such vectors and host cells arealso provided by the present invention. The host cell is then culturedto produce the peptide of interest. The peptide may also be produced invitro adopting an in vitro translation system.

IV. POLYNUCLEOTIDES

The present invention provides polynucleotides which encode any of theaforementioned peptides of the present invention. These includepolynucleotides derived from the natural occurring HJURP gene (GenBankAccession No. NM_(—)018410 (for example, SEQ ID NO: 49)) and thosehaving a conservatively modified nucleotide sequences thereof. Herein,the phrase “conservatively modified nucleotide sequence” refers tosequences which encode identical or essentially identical amino acidsequences. Because of the degeneracy of the genetic code, a large numberof functionally identical nucleic acids encode any given protein. Forinstance, the codons GCA, GCC, GCG, and GCU all encode the amino acidalanine. Thus, at every position where an alanine is specified by acodon, the codon may be altered to any of the corresponding codonsdescribed without altering the encoded polypeptide. Such nucleic acidvariations are “silent variations,” which are one species ofconservatively modified variations. Every nucleic acid sequence hereinwhich encodes a peptide also describes every possible silent variationof the nucleic acid. One of skill in the art will recognize that eachcodon in a nucleic acid (except AUG, which is ordinarily the only codonfor methionine, and TGG, which is ordinarily the only codon fortryptophan) may be modified to yield a functionally identical molecule.Accordingly, each silent variation of a nucleic acid that encodes apeptide is implicitly described in each disclosed sequence.

The polynucleotide of the present invention may be composed of DNA, RNA,and derivatives thereof. As is well known in the art, a DNA molecule issuitably composed of bases such as the naturally occurring bases A, T,C, and G, and T is replaced by U in an RNA. One of skill will recognizethat non-naturally occurring bases be included in polynucleotides, aswell.

The polynucleotide of the present invention may encode multiple peptidesof the present invention with or without intervening amino acidsequences. For example, the intervening amino acid sequence may providea cleavage site (e.g., enzyme recognition sequence) of thepolynucleotide or the translated peptides. Furthermore, thepolynucleotide may include any additional sequences to the codingsequence encoding the peptide of the present invention. For example, thepolynucleotide may be a recombinant polynucleotide that includesregulatory sequences required for the expression of the peptide or maybe an expression vector (plasmid) with marker genes and such. Ingeneral, such recombinant polynucleotides may be prepared by themanipulation of polynucleotides through conventional recombinanttechniques using, for example, polymerases and end nucleases.

Both recombinant and chemical synthesis techniques may be used toproduce the polynucleotides of the present invention. For example, apolynucleotide may be produced by insertion into an appropriate vector,which may be expressed when transfected into a competent cell.Alternatively, a polynucleotide may be amplified using PCR techniques orexpression in suitable hosts (see, e.g., Sambrook et al., MolecularCloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York,1989). Alternatively, a polynucleotide may be synthesized using thesolid phase techniques, as described in Beaucage S L & Iyer R P,Tetrahedron 1992, 48: 2223-311; Matthes et al., EMBO J 1984, 3: 801-5.

V. EXOSOMES

The present invention further provides intracellular vesicles calledexosomes, which present complexes formed between the peptides of thepresent invention and HLA antigens on their surface. Exosomes may beprepared, for example, using the methods detailed in Japanese PatentApplication Kohyo Publications No. Hei 11-510507 and WO99/03499, and maybe prepared using APCs obtained from patients who are subject totreatment and/or prevention. The exosomes of the present invention maybe inoculated as vaccines, similarly to the peptides of the presentinvention.

The type of HLA antigens included in the complexes must match that ofthe subject requiring treatment and/or prevention. For example, in theJapanese population, HLA-A24 or HLA-A2, particularly HLA-A*2402 andHLA-A*0201 and HLA-A*0206 are often appropriate. The use of A24 type orthe A2 type that is highly expressed among the Japanese and Caucasian isfavorable for obtaining effective results, and subtypes such as A*0201and A*0206 find use. Typically, in the clinic, the type of HLA antigenof the patient requiring treatment is investigated in advance, whichenables appropriate selection of peptides having high levels of bindingaffinity to this antigen, or having CTL inducibility by antigenpresentation. Furthermore, in order to obtain peptides showing highbinding affinity and CTL inducibility, substitution, deletion, oraddition of 1, 2, or several amino acids may be performed based on theamino acid sequence of the naturally occurring HJURP partial peptide.

When using the A24 type HLA antigen for the exosome of the presentinvention, peptides having a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 2 to 24have particular utility. Alternatively, when using the A2 type HLAantigen for the exosome of the present invention, the peptides having asequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 26 to 48 find use.

VI. ANTIGEN-PRESENTING CELLS (APCS)

The present invention also provides isolated APCs that present complexesformed with HLA antigens and the peptides of the present invention onits surface. The APCs may be derived from patients who are subject totreatment and/or prevention, and may be administered as vaccines bythemselves or in combination with other drugs including the peptides ofthe present invention, exosomes, or CTLs.

The APCs are not limited to a particular kind of cells and includedendritic cells (DCs), Langerhans cells, macrophages, B cells, andactivated T cells, which are known to present proteinaceous antigens ontheir cell surface so as to be recognized by lymphocytes. Since DC is arepresentative APC having the strongest CTL inducing activity amongAPCs, DCs find use as the APCs of the present invention.

For example, the APCs of the present invention may be obtained byinducing DCs from peripheral blood monocytes and then contacting(stimulating) them with the peptides of the present invention in vitro,ex vivo or in vivo. When the peptides of the present invention areadministered to the subjects, APCs that present the peptides of thepresent invention are induced in the body of the subject. Therefore, theAPCs of the present invention may be obtained by collecting the APCsfrom the subject after administering the peptides of the presentinvention to the subject. Alternatively, the APCs of the presentinvention may be obtained by contacting APCs collected from a subjectwith the peptide of the present invention.

The APCs of the present invention may be administered to a subject forinducing immune response against cancer in the subject by themselves orin combination with other drugs including the peptides, exosomes or CTLsof the present invention. For example, the ex vivo administration mayinclude steps of:

a: collecting APCs from a first subject,

b: contacting with the APCs of step a, with the peptide, and

c: administering the APCs of step b to a second subject.

The first subject and the second subject may be the same individual, ormay be different individuals. The APCs obtained by step b may beadministered as a vaccine for treating and/or preventing cancer,examples of which include, but are not limited to, AML, bladder cancer,breast cancer, cervical cancer, cholangiocellular carcinoma, CML,colorectal cancer, esophagus cancer, Diffused-type gastric cancer, livercancer, NSCLC, lymphoma, osteosarcoma, ovarian cancer, pancreaticcancer, prostate cancer, renal carcinoma, SCLC, soft tissue tumor andtesticular tumor, but not limited thereto. The present invention alsoprovides a method or process for manufacturing a pharmaceuticalcomposition for inducing APCs, wherein the method includes the step ofadmixing or formulating the peptide of the invention with apharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the APCs have a highlevel of CTL inducibility. In the term of “high level of CTLinducibility”, the high level is relative to the level of that by APCcontacting with no peptide or peptides which may not induce the CTL.Such APCs having a high level of CTL inducibility may be prepared by amethod which includes the step of transferring a polynucleotide encodingthe peptide of the present invention to APCs in vitro as well as themethod mentioned above. The introduced genes may be in the form of DNAsor RNAs. Examples of methods for introduction include, withoutparticular limitations, various methods conventionally performed in thisfield, such as lipofection, electroporation, or calcium phosphate methodmay be used. More specifically, it may be performed as described inCancer Res 1996, 56: 5672-7; J Immunol 1998, 161: 5607-13; J Exp Med1996, 184: 465-72; Published Japanese Translation of InternationalPublication No. 2000-509281. By transferring the gene into APCs, thegene undergoes transcription, translation, and such in the cell, andthen the obtained protein is processed by MHC Class I or Class II, andproceeds through a presentation pathway to present partial peptides.

VII. CYTOTOXIC T LYMPHOCYTES (CTLS)

A CTL induced against any of the peptides of the present inventionstrengthens the immune response targeting cancer cells in vivo and thusmay be used as vaccines similar to the peptides. Thus, the presentinvention provides isolated CTLs that are specifically induced oractivated by any of the present peptides.

Such CTLs may be obtained by (1) administering the peptide(s) of thepresent invention to a subject or (2) contacting (stimulating)subject-derived APCs, and CD8 positive cells, or peripheral bloodmononuclear leukocytes in vitro with the peptide(s) of the presentinvention or (3) contacting CD8 positive cells or peripheral bloodmononuclear leukocytes in vitro with the APCs or exosomes presenting acomplex of an HLA antigen and the peptide on its surface or (4)introducing a gene that includes a polynucleotide encoding a T cellreceptor (TCR) subunit binding to the peptide of the present invention.Such APCs or exosomes may be prepared by the methods described above anddetails of the method of (4) is described bellow in section “VIII. Tcell receptor (TCR)”.

The CTLs of the present invention may be derived from patients who aresubject to treatment and/or prevention, and may be administered bythemselves or in combination with other drugs including the peptides ofthe present invention or exosomes for the purpose of regulating effects.The obtained CTLs act specifically against target cells presenting thepeptides of the present invention, for example, the same peptides usedfor induction. The target cells may be cells that endogenously expressHJURP, such as cancer cells, or cells that are transfected with theHJURP gene; and cells that present a peptide of the present invention onthe cell surface due to stimulation by the peptide may also serve astargets of activated CTL attack.

VIII. T CELL RECEPTOR (TCR)

The present invention also provides a composition including nucleicacids encoding polypeptides that are capable of forming a subunit of a Tcell receptor (TCR), and methods of using the same. The TCR subunitshave the ability to form TCRs that confer specificity to T cells againsttumor cells presenting HJURP. By using the known methods in the art, thenucleic acids of alpha- and beta-chains as the TCR subunits of the CTLinduced with one or more peptides of the present invention may beidentified (WO2007/032255 and Morgan et al., J Immunol, 171, 3288(2003)). For example, the PCR method is preferred to analyze the TCR.The PCR primers for the analysis can be, for example, 5′-R primers(5′-gtctaccaggcattcgcttcat-3′) as 5′ side primers (SEQ ID NO: 51) and3-TRa-C primers (5′-tcagctggaccacagccgcagcgt-3′) specific to TCR alphachain C region (SEQ ID NO: 52), 3-TRb-C1 primers(5′-tcagaaatcctttctcttgac-3′) specific to TCR beta chain C1 region (SEQID NO: 53) or 3-TRbeta-C2 primers (5′-ctagcctctggaatcctttctctt-3′)specific to TCR beta chain C2 region (SEQ ID NO: 54) as 3′ side primers,but not limited thereto. The derivative TCRs may bind target cellsdisplaying the HJURP peptide with high avidity, and optionally mediateefficient killing of target cells presenting the HJURP peptide in vivoand in vitro.

The nucleic acids encoding the TCR subunits may be incorporated intosuitable vectors, e.g., retroviral vectors. These vectors are well knownin the art. The nucleic acids or the vectors including them usefully maybe transferred into a T cell, for example, a T cell from a patient.Advantageously, the present invention provides an off-the-shelfcomposition allowing rapid modification of a patient's own T cells (orthose of another mammal) to rapidly and easily produce modified T cellshaving excellent cancer cell killing properties.

The specific TCR is a receptor capable of specifically recognizing acomplex of a peptide of the present invention and HLA molecule, giving aT cell specific activity against the target cell when the TCR ispresented on the surface of the T cell. A specific recognition of theabove complex may be confirmed by any known methods, and preferredmethods include, for example, HLA multimer staining analysis using HLAmolecules and peptides of the present invention, and ELISPOT assay. Byperforming the ELISPOT assay, it can be confirmed that a T cellexpressing the TCR on the cell surface recognizes a cell by the TCR, andthat the signal is transmitted intracellularly. The confirmation thatthe above-mentioned complex can give a T cell cytotoxic activity whenthe complex exists on the T cell surface may also be carried out by aknown method. A preferred method includes, for example, thedetermination of cytotoxic activity against an HLA positive target cell,such as chromium release assay.

Also, the present invention provides CTLs which are prepared bytransduction with the nucleic acids encoding the TCR subunitspolypeptides that bind to the HJURP peptide of, e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 2 to24 in the context of HLA-A24, and also the peptides of SEQ ID NOs: 26 to48 in the context of HLA-A2.

The transduced CTLs are capable of homing to cancer cells in vivo, andmay be expanded by well known culturing methods in vitro (e.g., Kawakamiet al., J. Immunol., 142, 3452-3461 (1989)). The CTLs of the presentinvention may be used to form an immunogenic composition useful intreating or the prevention of cancer in a patient in need of therapy orprotection (WO2006/031221).

IX. PHARMACEUTICAL SUBSTANCES OR COMPOSITIONS

Since HJURP expression is specifically elevated in cancer such as AML,bladder cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, cholangiocellularcarcinoma, CML, colorectal cancer, esophagus cancer, Diffused-typegastric cancer, liver cancer, NSCLC, lymphoma, osteosarcoma, ovariancancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, renal carcinoma, SCLC, softtissue tumor and testicular tumor compared with normal tissue, thepeptides of or polynucleotides of the present invention may be used forthe treatment and/or for the prophylaxis of cancer, and/or prevention ofpostoperative recurrence thereof. Thus, the present invention provides apharmaceutical agent, substance or composition for the treatment and/orprophylaxis of cancer, and/or for prevention of postoperative recurrencethereof, such agent, substance or composition including as an activeingredient one or more of the peptides, or polynucleotides of thepresent invention as an active ingredient. Alternatively, the presentpeptides may be expressed on the surface of any of the foregoingexosomes or cells, such as APCs for the use as pharmaceutical substancesor compositions. In addition, the aforementioned CTLs which target anyof the peptides of the present invention may also be used as the activeingredient of the present pharmaceutical substances or compositions.

In the present invention, the phrase “active ingredient” refers to asubstance in an agent or composition that is biologically orphysiologically active. Particularly, in a pharmaceutical agent orcomposition, “active ingredient” refers to a substance that shows anobjective pharmacological effect. For example, in case of pharmaceuticalagents or compositions for use in the treatment or prevention of cancer,active ingredients in the agents or compositions may lead to at leastone biological or physiologically action on cancer cells and/or tissuesdirectly or indirectly. Preferably, such action may include reducing orinhibiting cancer cell growth, damaging or killing cancer cells and/ortissues, and so on. Before formulated, “active ingredient” is alsoreferred to as “bulk”, “drug substance” or “technical product”.

The present pharmaceutical agents or compositions find use as a vaccine.In the present invention, the phrase “vaccine” (also referred to as animmunogenic composition) refers to a substance that has the function toinduce anti-tumor immunity upon inoculation into animals.

The pharmaceutical agents or compositions of the present invention canbe used for the treatment and/or prevention cancers, and/or preventionof postoperative recurrence thereof in subjects or patients includinghuman and any other mammal including, but not limited to, mouse, rat,guinea-pig, rabbit, cat, dog, sheep, goat, pig, cattle, horse, monkey,baboon, and chimpanzee, particularly a commercially important animal ora domesticated animal.

In another embodiment, the present invention also provides the use of anactive ingredient in manufacturing a pharmaceutical composition or agentfor treating cancer or tumor, said active ingredient selected fromamong:

(a) a peptide of the present invention;

(b) a nucleic acid encoding such a peptide as disclosed herein in anexpressible form;

(c) an APC or an exosome presenting a peptide of the present inventionon its surface; and

(d) a cytotoxic T cell of the present invention.

Alternatively, the present invention further provides an activeingredient for use in treating or preventing cancer of tumor, saidactive ingredient selected from among:

(a) a peptide of the present invention;

(b) a nucleic acid encoding such a peptide as disclosed herein in anexpressible form;

(c) an APC or an exosome presenting a peptide of the present inventionon its surface; and

(d) a cytotoxic T cell of the present invention.

Alternatively, the present invention further provides a method orprocess for manufacturing a pharmaceutical composition or substance fortreating or preventing cancer or tumor, wherein the method or processincludes the step of formulating a pharmaceutically or physiologicallyacceptable carrier with an active ingredient selected from among:

(a) a peptide of the present invention;

(b) a nucleic acid encoding such a peptide as disclosed herein in anexpressible form;

(c) an APC or an exosome presenting a peptide of the present inventionon its surface; and

(d) a cytotoxic T cell of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention also provides a method orprocess for manufacturing a pharmaceutical composition or substance fortreating or preventing cancer or tumor, wherein the method or processincludes the steps of admixing an active ingredient with apharmaceutically or physiologically acceptable carrier, wherein theactive ingredient is selected from among:

(a) a peptide of the present invention;

(b) a nucleic acid encoding such a peptide as disclosed herein in anexpressible form;

(c) an APC or an exosome presenting a peptide of the present inventionon its surface; and

(d) a cytotoxic T cell of the present invention.

The pharmaceutical agents, substances or compositions of the presentinvention can be used to treat and/or prevent cancers or tumors, and/orprevention of postoperative recurrence thereof in subjects or patientsincluding human and any other mammal including, but not limited to,mouse, rat, guinea-pig, rabbit, cat, dog, sheep, goat, pig, cattle,horse, monkey, baboon, and chimpanzee, particularly a commerciallyimportant animal or a domesticated animal.

According to the present invention, peptides having an amino acidsequence selected from among SEQ ID NOs: 2 to 24 have been found to beHLA-A24 restricted epitope peptides or the candidates and also SEQ IDNOs: 26 to 48 have been found to be HLA-A2 restricted epitope peptidesor the candidates that may induce potent and specific immune response.Therefore, the present pharmaceutical substances or compositions whichinclude any of these peptides with the amino acid sequences of SEQ IDNOs: 2 to 24 and 26 to 48 are particularly suited for the administrationto subjects whose HLA antigen is HLA-A24 or HLA-A2. The same applies topharmaceutical substances or compositions which include polynucleotidesencoding any of these peptides (i.e., the polynucleotides of the presentinvention).

Cancers to be treated by the pharmaceutical substances or compositionsof the present invention are not limited and include any cancer in whichHJURP is involved (e.g., is overexpressed), including, but not limitedto, AML, bladder cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer,cholangiocellular carcinoma, CML, colorectal cancer, esophagus cancer,Diffused-type gastric cancer, liver cancer, NSCLC, lymphoma,osteosarcoma, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, renalcarcinoma, SCLC, soft tissue tumor and testicular tumor.

The present pharmaceutical substances or compositions may contain inaddition to the aforementioned active ingredients, other peptides whichhave the ability to induce CTLs against cancerous cells, otherpolynucleotides encoding the other peptides, other cells that presentthe other peptides, or such. Herein, the other peptides that have theability to induce CTLs against cancerous cells are exemplified by cancerspecific antigens (e.g., identified TAAs), but are not limited thereto.

If needed, the pharmaceutical substances or compositions of the presentinvention may optionally include other therapeutic substances as anactive ingredient, so long as the substance does not inhibit theantitumoral effect of the active ingredient, e.g., any of the presentpeptides. For example, formulations may include anti-inflammatorysubstances or compositions, pain killers, chemotherapeutics, and thelike. In addition to other therapeutic substances in the medicamentitself, the medicaments of the present invention may also beadministered sequentially or concurrently with the one or more otherpharmacologic substances or compositions. The amounts of medicament andpharmacologic substance or composition depend, for example, on what typeof pharmacologic substance(s) or composition(s) is/are used, the diseasebeing treated, and the scheduling and routes of administration.

It should be understood that in addition to the ingredients particularlymentioned herein, the pharmaceutical substances or compositions of thepresent invention may include other substances or compositionsconventional in the art having regard to the type of formulation inquestion.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the present pharmaceuticalagents, substances or compositions may be included in articles ofmanufacture and kits containing materials useful for treating thepathological conditions of the disease to be treated, e.g., cancer. Thearticle of manufacture may include a container of any of the presentpharmaceutical substances or compositions with a label. Suitablecontainers include bottles, vials, and test tubes. The containers may beformed from a variety of materials, such as glass or plastic. The labelon the container should indicate the substance or composition is usedfor treating or prevention of one or more conditions of the disease. Thelabel may also indicate directions for administration and so on.

In addition to the container described above, a kit including apharmaceutical agent, substance or composition of the present inventionmay optionally further include a second container housing apharmaceutically-acceptable diluent. It may further include othermaterials desirable from a commercial and user standpoint, includingother buffers, diluents, filters, needles, syringes, and package insertswith instructions for use.

The pharmaceutical compositions can, if desired, be presented in a packor dispenser device which can contain one or more unit dosage formscontaining the active ingredient. The pack can, for example, includemetal or plastic foil, such as a blister pack. The pack or dispenserdevice can be accompanied by instructions for administration.

(1) Pharmaceutical Substances or Compositions Containing the Peptides asthe Active Ingredient

The peptides of the present invention can be administered directly as apharmaceutical agent, substance or composition, or if necessary, may beformulated by conventional formulation methods. In the latter case, inaddition to the peptides of the present invention, carriers, excipients,and such that are ordinarily used for drugs can be included asappropriate without particular limitations. Examples of such carriersare sterilized water, physiological saline, phosphate buffer, culturefluid and such. Furthermore, the pharmaceutical substances orcompositions can contain as necessary, stabilizers, suspensions,preservatives, surfactants and such. The pharmaceutical agent,substances or compositions of the present invention can be used foranticancer purposes.

The peptides of the present invention can be prepared in combination,which includes two or more of peptides of the present invention, toinduce CTL in vivo. The peptides can be in a cocktail or can beconjugated to each other using standard techniques. For example, thepeptides can be chemically linked or expressed as a single fusionpolypeptide sequence that may have one or several amino acid(s) as alinker (e.g., Lysine linker: K. S. Kawamura et al. J. Immunol. 2002,168: 5709-5715). The peptides in the combination can be the same ordifferent. By administering the peptides of the present invention, thepeptides are presented in high density by the HLA antigens on APCs, thenCTLs that specifically react toward the complex formed between thedisplayed peptide and the HLA antigen are induced. Alternatively, APCs(e.g., DCs) are removed from subjects and then stimulated by thepeptides of the present invention to obtain APCs that present any of thepeptides of the present invention on their cell surface. These APCs arere-administered to the subjects to induce CTLs in the subjects, and as aresult, aggressiveness towards the tumor-associated endothelium can beincreased.

The pharmaceutical substances or compositions for the treatment and/orprevention of cancer, which include any of the peptides of the presentinvention as the active ingredient, can include an adjuvant so thatcellular immunity will be established effectively, or they can beadministered with other active ingredients, and they can be administeredby formulation into granules. An adjuvant refers to any compound,substance or composition that enhances the immune response against theprotein when administered together (or successively) with the proteinhaving immunological activity. An adjuvant that can be applied includesthose described in the literature (Clin Microbiol Rev 1994, 7: 277-89).Exemplary adjuvants include aluminum phosphate, aluminum hydroxide,alum, cholera toxin, salmonella toxin, Incomplete Freund's adjuvant(IFA), Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), ISCOMatrix, GM-CSF, CpG, O/Wemulsion, and such, but are not limited thereto.

Furthermore, liposome formulations, granular formulations in which thepeptide is bound to few-micrometers diameter beads, and formulations inwhich a lipid is bound to the peptide may be conveniently used.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the peptides of thepresent invention may also be administered in the form of apharmaceutically acceptable salt. Preferable examples of the saltsinclude salts with an alkali metal, salts with a metal, salts with anorganic base, salts with an organic acid and salts with an inorganicacid. As used herein, “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” refers to thosesalts which retain the biological effectiveness and properties of thecompound and which are obtained by reaction with inorganic acids orbases such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, nitricacid, phosphoric acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid,p-toluenesulfonic acid, salicylic acid and the like. Examples ofpreferred salts include salts with an alkali metal, salts with a metal,salts with an organic base, salts with an organic acid and salts with aninorganic acid.

In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical agents, substances orcompositions of the present invention include a component that primesCTL. Lipids have been identified as substances or compositions capableof priming CTL in vivo against viral antigens. For example, palmiticacid residues can be attached to the epsilon- and alpha-amino groups ofa lysine residue and then linked to a peptide of the present invention.The lipidated peptide can then be administered either directly in amicelle or particle, incorporated into a liposome, or emulsified in anadjuvant. As another example of lipid priming of CTL responses, E. colilipoproteins, such as tripalmitoyl-S-glycerylcysteinyl-seryl-serine(P3CSS) can be used to prime CTL when covalently attached to anappropriate peptide (see, e.g., Deres et al., Nature 1989, 342: 561-4).

The method of administration can be oral, intradermal, subcutaneous,intravenous injection, or such, and systemic administration or localadministration to the vicinity of the targeted sites. The administrationcan be performed by single administration or boosted by multipleadministrations. The dose of the peptides of the present invention canbe adjusted appropriately according to the disease to be treated, age ofthe patient, weight, method of administration, and such, and isordinarily 0.001 mg to 1,000 mg, for example, 0.01 mg to 100 mg, forexample, 0.1 mg to 10 mg, and can be administered once in a few days tofew months. One skilled in the art can appropriately select a suitabledose.

(2) Pharmaceutical Substances or Compositions Containing Polynucleotidesas Active Ingredient

The pharmaceutical substances or compositions of the present inventioncan also include nucleic acids encoding the peptide(s) disclosed hereinin an expressible form. Herein, the phrase “in an expressible form”means that the polynucleotide, when introduced into a cell, will beexpressed in vivo as a polypeptide that induces anti-tumor immunity. Inan exemplified embodiment, the nucleic acid sequence of thepolynucleotide of interest includes regulatory elements necessary forexpression of the polynucleotide. The polynucleotide(s) can be equippedso to achieve stable insertion into the genome of the target cell (see,e.g., Thomas K R & Capecchi M R, Cell 1987, 51: 503-12 for a descriptionof homologous recombination cassette vectors. See also, e.g., Wolff etal., Science 1990, 247: 1465-8; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,580,859; 5,589,466;5,804,566; 5,739,118; 5,736,524; 5,679,647; and WO 98/04720). Examplesof DNA-based delivery technologies include “naked DNA”, facilitated(bupivacaine, polymers, peptide-mediated) delivery, cationic lipidcomplexes, and particle-mediated (“gene gun”) or pressure-mediateddelivery (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,922,687).

The peptides of the present invention can also be expressed by viral orbacterial vectors. Examples of expression vectors include attenuatedviral hosts, such as vaccinia or fowlpox. This approach involves the useof vaccinia virus, e.g., as a vector to express nucleotide sequencesthat encode the peptide. Upon introduction into a host, the recombinantvaccinia virus expresses the immunogenic peptide, and thereby elicits animmune response. Vaccinia vectors and methods useful in immunizationprotocols are described in, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,848. Anothervector is BCG (Bacille Calmette Guerin). BCG vectors are described inStover et al., Nature 1991, 351: 456-60. A wide variety of other vectorsuseful for therapeutic administration or immunization, e.g., adeno andadeno-associated virus vectors, retroviral vectors, Salmonella typhivectors, detoxified anthrax toxin vectors, and the like, will beapparent. See, e.g., Shata et al., Mol Med Today 2000, 6: 66-71;Shedlock et al., J Leukoc Biol 2000, 68: 793-806; Hipp et al., In Vivo2000, 14: 571-85.

Delivery of a polynucleotide into a patient can be either direct, inwhich case the patient is directly exposed to a polynucleotide-carryingvector, or indirect, in which case, cells are first transformed with thepolynucleotide of interest in vitro, then the cells are transplantedinto the patient. Theses two approaches are known, respectively, as invivo and ex vivo gene therapies.

For general reviews of the methods of gene therapy, see Goldspiel etal., Clinical Pharmacy 1993, 12: 488-505; Wu and Wu, Biotherapy 1991, 3:87-95; Tolstoshev, Ann Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 1993, 33: 573-96; Mulligan,Science 1993, 260: 926-32; Morgan & Anderson, Ann Rev Biochem 1993, 62:191-217; Trends in Biotechnology 1993, 11(5): 155-215). Methods commonlyknown in the art of recombinant DNA technology that are applicable tothe present invention are described by Ausubel et al., in CurrentProtocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, NY, 1993; and byKrieger, in Gene Transfer and Expression, A Laboratory Manual, StocktonPress, NY, 1990.

The method of administration can be oral, intradermal, subcutaneous,intravenous injection, or such, and systemic administration or localadministration to the vicinity of the targeted sites finds use. Theadministration can be performed by single administration or boosted bymultiple administrations. The dose of the polynucleotide in the suitablecarrier or cells transformed with the polynucleotide encoding thepeptides of the present invention can be adjusted appropriatelyaccording to the disease to be treated, age of the patient, weight,method of administration, and such, and is ordinarily 0.001 mg to 1,000mg, for example, 0.01 mg to 100 mg, for example, 0.1 mg to 10 mg, andcan be administered once every a few days to once every few months. Oneskilled in the art can appropriately select the suitable dose.

X. METHODS USING THE PEPTIDES, EXOSOMES, APCS AND CTLS

The peptides and polynucleotides of the present invention can be usedfor preparing or inducing APCs and CTLs. The exosomes and APCs of thepresent invention can be also used for inducing CTLs. The peptides,polynucleotides, exosomes and APCs can be used in combination with anyother compounds so long as the additional compounds do not inhibit CTLinducibility. Thus, any of the aforementioned pharmaceutical substancesor compositions of the present invention can be used for inducing CTLs.In addition thereto, those including the peptides and polynucleotidescan be also be used for inducing APCs as explained below.

(1) Method of Inducing Antigen-Presenting Cells (APCs)

The present invention provides methods of inducing APCs with high CTLinducibility using the peptides or polynucleotides of the presentinvention.

The methods of the present invention include the step of contacting APCswith the peptides of the present invention in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo.For example, the method contacting APCs with the peptides ex vivo caninclude steps of:

a: collecting APCs from a subject, and

b: contacting the APCs of step a with the peptide.

The APCs are not limited to a particular kind of cells and include DCs,Langerhans cells, macrophages, B cells, and activated T cells, which areknown to present proteinaceous antigens on their cell surface so as tobe recognized by lymphocytes. Preferably, DCs can be used since theyhave the strongest CTL inducibility among APCs. Any peptides of thepresent invention can be used by themselves or with other peptides ofthe present invention.

On the other hands, when the peptides of the present invention areadministered to a subject, the APCs are contacted with the peptides invivo, consequently, the APCs with high CTL inducibility are induced inthe body of the subject. Thus, the present invention includesadministering the peptides of the present invention to a subject.Similarly, when the polynucleotides of the present invention areadministered to a subject in an expressible form, the peptides of thepresent invention are expressed and contacted with APCs in vivo,consequently, the APCs with high CTL inducibility are induced in thebody of the subject. Thus, the present invention may also includeadministering the polynucleotides of the present invention to a subject.“Expressible form” is described above in section “IX. Pharmaceuticalsubstances or compositions,

(2) Pharmaceutical Substances or Compositions Containing Polynucleotidesas the Active Ingredient”.

Furthermore, the present invention may include introducing thepolynucleotide of the present invention into an APCs to induce APCs withCTL inducibility. For example, the method can include steps of:

a: collecting APCs from a subject, and

b: introducing a polynucleotide encoding peptide of the presentinvention.

Step b can be performed as described above in section “VI.Antigen-presenting cells”.

Alternatively, the present invention provides a method for preparing anantigen-presenting cell (APC) which specifically induces CTL activityagainst HJURP, wherein the method can include one of the followingsteps:

(a) contacting an APC with a peptide of the present invention in vitro,ex vivo or in vivo; and

(b) introducing a polynucleotide encoding a peptide of the presentinvention into an APC.

(2) Method of Inducing CTLs

The present invention also provides methods for inducing CTLs using thepeptides, polynucleotides, exosomes or APCs of the present invention.

The present invention also provides methods for inducing CTLs using apolynucleotide encoding a polypeptide that is capable of forming a Tcell receptor (TCR) subunit recognizing a complex of the peptides of thepresent invention and HLA antigens. Preferably, the methods for inducingCTLs may include at least one step selected from among:

a) contacting a CD8 positive T cell with an antigen-presenting celland/or an exosome that presents on its surface a complex of an HLAantigen and a peptide of the preset invention; and

b) introducing a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide that is capableof forming a TCR subunit recognizing a complex of a peptide of thepresent invention and an HLA antigen into a CD8 positive cell.

When the peptides, the polynucleotides, APCs, or exosomes of the presentinvention are administered to a subject, CTLs are induced in the body ofthe subject, and the strength of the immune response targeting thecancer cells is enhanced. Thus, the methods of the present inventionincludes the step of administering the peptides, the polynucleotides,the APCs or exosomes of the present invention to a subject.

Alternatively, CTLs can be also induced by using them ex vivo, and afterinducing CTL, the activated CTLs can be returned to the subject. Forexample, the method can include steps of:

a: collecting APCs from a subject;

b: contacting with the APCs of step a, with the peptide; and

c: co-culturing the APCs of step b with CD8 positive cells.

The APCs to be co-cultured with the CD8 positive cells in above step ccan also be prepared by transferring a gene that includes apolynucleotide of the present invention into APCs as described above insection “VI. Antigen-presenting cells”; though the present invention islimited thereto, and encompasses any APCs that effectively present onits surface a complex of an HLA antigen and a peptide of the presentinvention.

Instead of such APCs, the exosomes that presents on the surface acomplex of an HLA antigen and the peptide of the present invention canbe also used. Namely, the present invention can include the step ofco-culturing exosomes presenting on its surface a complex of an HLAantigen and the peptide of the present invention. Such exosomes can beprepared by the methods described above in section “V. Exosomes”.

Furthermore, CTL can be induced by introducing a gene that includes apolynucleotide encoding the TCR subunit binding to the peptide of thepresent invention into CD8 positive cells. Such transduction can beperformed as described above in section “VIII. T cell receptor (TCR)”.

In addition, the present invention provides a method or process formanufacturing a pharmaceutical agent, substance or composition inducingCTLs, wherein the method includes the step of admixing or formulatingthe peptide of the present invention with a pharmaceutically acceptablecarrier.

(3) Method of Inducing Immune Response

Moreover, the present invention provides methods of inducing an immuneresponse against diseases related to HJURP. Suitable diseases mayinclude cancer, examples of which include, but are not limited to, AML,bladder cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, cholangiocellularcarcinoma, CML, colorectal cancer, esophagus cancer, Diffused-typegastric cancer, liver cancer, NSCLC, lymphoma, osteosarcoma, ovariancancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, renal carcinoma, SCLC, softtissue tumor and testicular tumor.

The methods of the present invention may include the step ofadministering substance(s) or composition(s) containing any of thepeptides of the present invention or polynucleotides encoding them. Thepresent inventive method may also contemplate the administration ofexosomes or APCs presenting any of the peptides of the presentinvention. For details, see the item of “IX. Pharmaceutical substancesor compositions”, particularly the part describing the use of thepharmaceutical substances or compositions of the present invention asvaccines. In addition, the exosomes and APCs that can be employed forthe present methods for inducing immune response are described in detailunder the items of “V. Exosomes”, “VI. Antigen-presenting cells (APCs)”,and (1) and (2) of “X. Methods using the peptides, exosomes, APCs andCTLs”, supra.

The present invention also provides a method or process formanufacturing a pharmaceutical agent, substance or composition inducingimmune response, wherein the method may include the step of admixing orformulating the peptide of the present invention with a pharmaceuticallyacceptable carrier.

Alternatively, the method of the present invention may include the stepof administrating a vaccine or a pharmaceutical composition of thepresent invention that contains:

(a) a peptide of the present invention;

(b) a nucleic acid encoding such a peptide as disclosed herein in anexpressible form;

(c) an APC or an exosome presenting a peptide of the present inventionon its surface; or

(d) a cytotoxic T cell of the present invention.

In the context of the present invention, a cancer overexpressing HJURPcan be treated with these active ingredients. Examples of such cancersinclude, but are not limited to, AML, bladder cancer, breast cancer,cervical cancer, cholangiocellular carcinoma, CML, colorectal cancer,esophagus cancer, Diffused-type gastric cancer, liver cancer, NSCLC,lymphoma, osteosarcoma, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostatecancer, renal carcinoma, SCLC, soft tissue tumor and testicular tumor.Accordingly, prior to the administration of the vaccines orpharmaceutical compositions including the active ingredients, it ispreferable to confirm whether the expression level of HJURP in thebiological samples to be treated is enhanced compared with normal cellsof the same organ. Thus, in one embodiment, the present inventionprovides a method for treating cancer (over)expressing HJURP, whichmethod may include the steps of:

i) determining the expression level of HJURP in biological sample (s)obtained from a subject with the cancer to be treated;

ii) comparing the expression level of HJURP with normal control; and

iii) administrating at least one component selected from among (a) to(d) described above to a subject with cancer overexpressing HJURPcompared with normal control.

Alternatively, the present invention also provides a vaccine orpharmaceutical composition that includes at least one component selectedfrom among (a) to (d) described above, for use in administrating to asubject having cancer overexpressing HJURP. In other words, the presentinvention further provides a method for identifying a subject to betreated with the HJURP polypeptide of the present invention, suchmethods including the step of determining an expression level of HJURPin subject-derived biological sample (s), wherein an increase of thelevel compared to a normal control level of the gene indicates that thesubject may have cancer which may be treated with the HJURP polypeptideof the present invention. The methods of treating cancer of the presentinvention are described in more detail below.

Any subject-derived cell or tissue can be used for the determination ofHJURP expression so long as it includes the objective transcription ortranslation product of HJURP. Examples of suitable samples include, butare not limited to, bodily tissues and fluids, such as blood, sputum andurine. Preferably, the subject-derived cell or tissue sample contains acell population including an epithelial cell, more preferably acancerous epithelial cell or an epithelial cell derived from tissuesuspected to be cancerous. Further, if necessary, the cell may bepurified from the obtained bodily tissues and fluids, and then used asthe subjected-derived sample.

A subject to be treated by the present method is preferably a mammal.Exemplary mammals include, but are not limited to, e.g., human,non-human primate, mouse, rat, dog, cat, horse, and cow.

According to the present invention, the expression level of HJURP inbiological samples obtained from a subject may be determined. Theexpression level can be determined at the transcription (nucleic acid)product level, using methods known in the art. For example, the mRNA ofHJURP may be quantified using probes by hybridization methods (e.g.,Northern hybridization). The detection may be carried out on a chip, anarray or as such. The use of an array may be preferable for detectingthe expression level of HJURP. Those skilled in the art can prepare suchprobes utilizing the sequence information of HJURP. For example, thecDNA of HJURP may be used as the probes. If necessary, the probes may belabeled with a suitable label, such as dyes, fluorescent substances andisotopes, and the expression level of the gene may be detected as theintensity of the hybridized labels.

Furthermore, the transcription product of HJURP (e.g., SEQ ID NO: 49)may be quantified using primers by amplification-based detection methods(e.g., RT-PCR). Such primers may be prepared based on the availablesequence information of the gene.

Specifically, a probe or primer used for the present method hybridizesunder stringent, moderately stringent, or low stringent conditions tothe mRNA of HJURP. As used herein, the phrase “stringent (hybridization)conditions” refers to conditions under which a probe or primer willhybridize to its target sequence, but not to other sequences. Stringentconditions are sequence-dependent and will be different under differentcircumstances. Specific hybridization of longer sequences is observed athigher temperatures than shorter sequences. Generally, the temperatureof a stringent condition is selected to be about 5 degrees C. lower thanthe thermal melting point (Tm) for a specific sequence at a definedionic strength and pH. The Tm is the temperature (under a defined ionicstrength, pH and nucleic acid concentration) at which 50% of the probescomplementary to their target sequence hybridize to the target sequenceat equilibrium. Since the target sequences are generally present atexcess, at Tm, 50% of the probes are occupied at equilibrium. Typically,stringent conditions will be those in which the salt concentration isless than about 1.0 M sodium ion, typically about 0.01 to 1.0 M sodiumion (or other salts) at pH 7.0 to 8.3 and the temperature is at leastabout 30 degrees C. for short probes or primers (e.g., 10 to 50nucleotides) and at least about 60 degrees C. for longer probes orprimers. Stringent conditions may also be achieved with the addition ofdestabilizing substances, such as formamide.

A probe or primer of the present invention is typically a substantiallypurified oligonucleotide. The oligonucleotide typically includes aregion of nucleotide sequence that hybridizes under stringent conditionsto at least about 2000, 1000, 500, 400, 350, 300, 250, 200, 150, 100,50, or 25, consecutive sense strand nucleotide sequence of a nucleicacid including a HJURP sequence, or an anti sense strand nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid including a HJURP sequence, or of a naturallyoccurring mutant of these sequences. In particular, for example, in apreferred embodiment, an oligonucleotide having 5-50 in length can beused as a primer for amplifying the genes, to be detected. Morepreferably, mRNA or cDNA of a HJURP gene can be detected witholigonucleotide probe or primer of a specific size, generally 15-30b inlength. In preferred embodiments, length of the oligonucleotide probe orprimer can be selected from 15-25. Assay procedures, devices, orreagents for the detection of gene by using such oligonucleotide probeor primer are well known (e.g. oligonucleotide microarray or PCR). Inthese assays, probes or primers can also include tag or linkersequences. Further, probes or primers can be modified with detectablelabel or affinity ligand to be captured. Alternatively, in hybridizationbased detection procedures, a polynucleotide having a few hundreds(e.g., about 100-200) bases to a few kilo (e.g., about 1000-2000) basesin length can also be used for a probe (e.g., northern blotting assay orcDNA microarray analysis).

Alternatively, the translation product may be detected for the diagnosisof the present invention. For example, the quantity of HJURP protein(SEQ ID NO: 50) or the immunologically fragment thereof may bedetermined. Methods for determining the quantity of the protein as thetranslation product include immunoassay methods that use an antibodyspecifically recognizing the protein. The antibody may be monoclonal orpolyclonal. Furthermore, any fragment or modification (e.g., chimericantibody, scFv, Fab, F(ab′)₂, Fv, etc.) of the antibody may be used forthe detection, so long as the fragment or modified antibody retains thebinding ability to the HJURP protein. Such antibodies against thepeptides of the present invention and the fragments thereof are alsoprovided by the present invention. Methods to prepare these kinds ofantibodies for the detection of proteins are well known in the art, andany method may be employed in the present invention to prepare suchantibodies and equivalents thereof.

As another method to detect the expression level of HJURP gene based onits translation product, the intensity of staining may be measured viaimmunohistochemical analysis using an antibody against the HJURPprotein. Namely, in this measurement, strong staining indicatesincreased presence/level of the protein and, at the same time, highexpression level of HJURP gene.

The expression level of a target gene, e.g., the HJURP gene, in cancercells can be determined to be increased if the level increases from thecontrol level (e.g., the level in normal cells) of the target gene by,for example, 10%, 25%, or 50%; or increases to more than 1.1 fold, morethan 1.5 fold, more than 2.0 fold, more than 5.0 fold, more than 10.0fold, or more.

The control level may be determined at the same time as the cancer cellsby using a sample(s) previously collected and stored from a subject(s)whose disease state(s) (cancerous or non-cancerous) is/are known. Inaddition, normal cells obtained from non-cancerous regions of an organthat has the cancer to be treated may be used as normal control.Alternatively, the control level may be determined by a statisticalmethod based on the results obtained by analyzing previously determinedexpression level(s) of HJURP gene in samples from subjects whose diseasestates are known. Furthermore, the control level can be derived from adatabase of expression patterns from previously tested cells. Moreover,according to an aspect of the present invention, the expression level ofHJURP gene in a biological sample may be compared to multiple controllevels, determined from multiple reference samples. It is preferred touse a control level determined from a reference sample derived from atissue type similar to that of the subject-derived biological sample.Moreover, it is preferred to use the standard value of the expressionlevels of HJURP gene in a population with a known disease state. Thestandard value may be obtained by any method known in the art. Forexample, a range of mean+/−2 S.D. or mean+/−3 S.D. may be used as thestandard value.

In the context of the present invention, a control level determined froma biological sample that is known to be non-cancerous is referred to asa “normal control level”. On the other hand, if the control level isdetermined from a cancerous biological sample, it is referred to as a“cancerous control level”. Difference between a sample expression leveland a control level can be normalized to the expression level of controlnucleic acids, e.g., housekeeping genes, whose expression levels areknown not to differ depending on the cancerous or non-cancerous state ofthe cell. Exemplary control genes include, but are not limited to,beta-actin, glyceraldehyde 3 phosphate dehydrogenase, and ribosomalprotein P1.

When the expression level of HJURP gene is increased as compared to thenormal control level, or is similar/equivalent to the cancerous controllevel, the subject may be diagnosed with cancer to be treated.

The present invention also provides a method of (i) diagnosing whether asubject suspected to have cancer to be treated, and/or (ii) selecting asubject for cancer treatment, which method may include the steps of:

a) determining the expression level of HJURP in biological sample (s)obtained from a subject who is suspected to have the cancer to betreated;

b) comparing the expression level of HJURP with a normal control level;

c) diagnosing the subject as having the cancer to be treated, if theexpression level f HJURP is increased as compared to the normal controllevel; and

d) selecting the subject for cancer treatment, if the subject isdiagnosed as having the cancer to be treated, in step c).

Alternatively, such a method may include the steps of:

a) determining the expression level of HJURP in biological sample (s)obtained from a subject who is suspected to have the cancer to betreated;

b) comparing the expression level of HJURP with a cancerous controllevel;

c) diagnosing the subject as having the cancer to be treated, if theexpression level of HJURP is similar or equivalent to the cancerouscontrol level; and

d) selecting the subject for cancer treatment, if the subject isdiagnosed as having the cancer to be treated, in step c).

The present invention also provides a diagnostic kit for diagnosing ordetermining a subject who is or is suspected to be suffering from cancerthat can be treated with the HJURP polypeptide of the present invention,which may also find use in assessing and/or monitoring the efficacy orapplicability of a cancer immunotherapy. Preferably, the cancerincludes, but is not limited to, AML, bladder cancer, breast cancer,cervical cancer, cholangiocellular carcinoma, CML, colorectal cancer,esophagus cancer, Diffused-type gastric cancer, liver cancer, NSCLC,lymphoma, osteosarcoma, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostatecancer, renal carcinoma, SCLC, soft tissue tumor and testicular tumor.More particularly, the kit preferably may include at least one reagentfor detecting the expression of the HJURP gene in a subject-derivedcell, which reagent may be selected from the group of:

(a) a reagent for detecting mRNA of the HJURP gene;

(b) a reagent for detecting the HJURP protein or the immunologicallyfragment thereof; and

(c) a reagent for detecting the biological activity of the HJURPprotein.

Examples of reagents suitable for detecting mRNA of the HJURP gene mayinclude nucleic acids that specifically bind to or identify the HJURPmRNA, such as oligonucleotides that have a complementary sequence to aportion of the HJURP mRNA. These kinds of oligonucleotides areexemplified by primers and probes that are specific to the HJURP mRNA.These kinds of oligonucleotides may be prepared based on methods wellknown in the art. If needed, the reagent for detecting the HJURP mRNAmay be immobilized on a solid matrix. Moreover, more than one reagentfor detecting the HJURP mRNA may be included in the kit.

On the other hand, examples of reagents suitable for detecting the HJURPprotein or the immunologically fragment thereof may include antibodiesto the HJURP protein or the immunologically fragment thereof. Theantibody may be monoclonal or polyclonal. Furthermore, any fragment ormodification (e.g., chimeric antibody, scFv, Fab, F(ab′)₂, Fv, etc.) ofthe antibody may be used as the reagent, so long as the fragment ormodified antibody retains the binding ability to the HJURP protein orthe immunologically fragment thereof. Methods to prepare these kinds ofantibodies for the detection of proteins are well known in the art, andany method may be employed in the present invention to prepare suchantibodies and equivalents thereof. Furthermore, the antibody may belabeled with signal generating molecules via direct linkage or anindirect labeling technique. Labels and methods for labeling antibodiesand detecting the binding of the antibodies to their targets are wellknown in the art, and any labels and methods may be employed for thepresent invention. Moreover, more than one reagent for detecting theHJURP protein may be included in the kit.

The kit may contain more than one of the aforementioned reagents. Thekit can further include a solid matrix and reagent for binding a probeagainst an HJURP gene or antibody against an HJURP peptide, a medium andcontainer for culturing cells, positive and negative control reagents,and a secondary antibody for detecting an antibody against an HJURPpeptide. For example, tissue samples obtained from subjects withoutcancer or suffering from cancer, may serve as useful control reagents. Akit of the present invention may further include other materialsdesirable from a commercial and user standpoint, including buffers,diluents, filters, needles, syringes, and package inserts (e.g.,written, tape, CD-ROM, etc.) with instructions for use. These reagentsand such may be retained in a container with a label. Suitablecontainers may include bottles, vials, and test tubes. The containersmay be formed from a variety of materials, such as glass or plastic.

In an embodiment of the present invention, when the reagent is a probeagainst the HJURP mRNA, the reagent may be immobilized on a solidmatrix, such as a porous strip, to form at least one detection site. Themeasurement or detection region of the porous strip may include aplurality of sites, each containing a nucleic acid (probe). A test stripmay also contain sites for negative and/or positive controls.Alternatively, control sites may be located on a strip separated fromthe test strip. Optionally, the different detection sites may containdifferent amounts of immobilized nucleic acids, i.e., a higher amount inthe first detection site and lesser amounts in subsequent sites. Uponthe addition of a test sample, the number of sites displaying adetectable signal provides a quantitative indication of the amount ofHJURP mRNA present in the sample. The detection sites may be configuredin any suitably detectable shape and are typically in the shape of a baror dot spanning the width of a test strip.

The kit of the present invention may further include a positive controlsample or HJURP standard sample. The positive control sample of thepresent invention may be prepared by collecting HJURP positive samplesand then assaying their HJURP levels. Alternatively, a purified HJURPprotein or polynucleotide may be added to cells that do not expressHJURP to form the positive sample or the HJURP standard sample. In thepresent invention, purified HJURP may be a recombinant protein. TheHJURP level of the positive control sample is, for example, more thanthe cut off value.

In one embodiment, the present invention further provides a diagnostickit including, a protein or a partial protein thereof capable ofspecifically recognizing the antibody of the present invention or thefragment thereof.

Examples of the partial peptide of the protein of the present inventioninclude polypeptides composed of at least 8, preferably 15, and morepreferably 20 contiguous amino acids in the amino acid sequence of theprotein of the present invention. Cancer can be diagnosed by detectingan antibody in a sample (e.g., blood, tissue) using a protein or apeptide (polypeptide) of the present invention. The method for preparingthe protein of the present invention and peptides are as describedabove.

The methods for diagnosing cancer of the present invention can beperformed by determining the difference between the amount of anti-HJURPantibody and that in the corresponding control sample as describe above.The subject is suspected to be suffering from cancer, if biologicalsamples of the subject contain antibodies against the expressionproducts (HJURP) of the gene and the quantity of the anti-HJURP antibodyis determined to be more than the cut off value in level compared tothat in normal control.

In another embodiment, a diagnostic kit of the present invention mayinclude the peptide of the present invention and an HLA molecule bindingthereto. The method for detecting antigen specific CTLs using antigenicpeptides and HLA molecules has already been established (for example,Altman J D et al., Science. 1996, 274(5284): 94-6). Thus, the complex ofthe peptide of the present invention and the HLA molecule can be appliedto the detection method to detect tumor antigen specific CTLs, therebyenabling earlier detection, recurrence and/or metastasis of cancer.Further, it can be employed for the selection of subjects applicablewith the pharmaceuticals including the peptide of the present inventionas an active ingredient, or the assessment of the treatment effect ofthe pharmaceuticals.

Particularly, according to the known method (see, for example, Altman JD et al., Science. 1996, 274(5284): 94-6), the oligomer complex, such astetramer, of the radiolabeled HLA molecule and the peptide of thepresent invention can be prepared. With using the complex, the diagnosiscan be done, for example, by quantifying the antigen-peptide specificCTLs in the peripheral blood lymphocytes derived from the subjectsuspected to be suffering from cancer.

The present invention further provides a method or diagnostic agents forevaluating immunological response of subject by using peptide epitopesas described herein. In one embodiment of the invention, HLA-A24, orHLA-A02 restricted peptides as described herein may be used as reagentsfor evaluating or predicting an immune response of a subject. The immuneresponse to be evaluated may be induced by contacting an immunogen withimmunocompetent cells in vitro or in vivo. In preferred embodiments, theimmunocompetent cells for evaluating an immunological response, may beselected from among peripheral blood, peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL),and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC). Methods for collecting orisolating such immunocompetent cells are well known in the arts. In someembodiments, any substances or compositions that may result in theproduction of antigen specific CTLs that recognize and bind to thepeptide epitope(s) may be employed as the reagent. The peptide reagentsmay need not to be used as the immunogen. Assay systems that are usedfor such an analysis include relatively recent technical developmentssuch as tetramers, staining for intracellular lymphokines and interferonrelease assays, or ELISPOT assays. In a preferred embodiment,immunocompetent cells to be contacted with peptide reagent may beantigen presenting cells including dendritic cells.

For example, peptides of the present invention may be used in tetramerstaining assays to assess peripheral blood mononuclear cells for thepresence of antigen-specific CTLs following exposure to a tumor cellantigen or an immunogen. The HLA tetrameric complex may be used todirectly visualize antigen specific CTLs (see, e.g., Ogg et al., Science279: 2103-2106, 1998; and Altman et al, Science 174: 94-96, 1996) anddetermine the frequency of the antigen-specific CTL population in asample of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. A tetramer reagent using apeptide of the invention may be generated as described below.

A peptide that binds to an HLA molecule is refolded in the presence ofthe corresponding HLA heavy chain and beta 2-microglobulin to generate atrimolecular complex. In the complex, carboxyl terminal of the heavychain is biotinylated at a site that was previously engineered into theprotein. Then, streptavidin is added to the complex to form tetramercomposed of the trimolecular complex and streptavidin. By means offluorescently labeled streptavidin, the tetramer can be used to stainantigen specific cells. The cells can then be identified, for example,by flow cytometry. Such an analysis may be used for diagnostic orprognostic purposes. Cells identified by the procedure can also be usedfor therapeutic purposes.

The present invention also provides reagents to evaluate immune recallresponses (see, e.g., Bertoni et al, J. Clin. Invest. 100: 503-513, 1997and Penna et al., J. Exp. Med. 174: 1565-1570, 1991) including peptidesof the present invention. For example, patient PBMC samples fromindividuals with cancer to be treated can be analyzed for the presenceof antigen-specific CTLs using specific peptides. A blood samplecontaining mononuclear cells can be evaluated by cultivating the PBMCsand stimulating the cells with a peptide of the invention. After anappropriate cultivation period, the expanded cell population can beanalyzed, for example, for CTL activity.

The peptides may also be used as reagents to evaluate the efficacy of avaccine. PBMCs obtained from a patient vaccinated with an immunogen maybe analyzed using, for example, either of the methods described above.The patient is HLA typed, and peptide epitope reagents that recognizethe allele-specific molecules present in the patient are selected forthe analysis. The immunogenicity of the vaccine may be indicated by thepresence of epitope-specific CTLs in the PBMC sample. The peptides ofthe invention may also be used to make antibodies, using techniques wellknown in the art (see, e.g., CURRENTPROTOCOLSINIMMUNOLOGY, Wiley/Greene,N.Y.; and Antibodies A Laboratory Manual, Harlow and Lane, Cold SpringHarbor Laboratory Press, 1989), which may find use as reagents todiagnose, detect or monitor cancer. Such antibodies may include thosethat recognize a peptide in the context of an HLA molecule, i.e.,antibodies that bind to a peptide-MHC complex.

The peptides and compositions of the present invention have a number ofadditional uses, some of which are described herein For instance, thepresent invention provides a method for diagnosing or detecting adisorder characterized by expression or presentation of a HJURPimmunogenic polypeptide. These methods involve determining expression orpresentation of a HJURP HLA binding peptide, or a complex of a HJURP HLAbinding peptide and an HLA class I molecule in a biological sample. Theexpression or presentation of a peptide or complex of peptide and HLAclass I molecule can be determined or detected by assaying with abinding partner for the peptide or complex. In a preferred embodiment, abinding partner for the peptide or complex may be an antibody recognizesand specifically bind to the peptide or the complex. The expression ofHJURP in a biological sample, such as a tumor biopsy, can also be testedby standard PCR amplification protocols using HJURP primers. An exampleof tumor expression is presented herein and further disclosure ofexemplary conditions and primers for HJURP amplification can be found inWO2003/27322.

Preferably, the diagnostic methods involve contacting a biologicalsample isolated from a subject with a substance specific for the HJURPHLA binding peptide to detect the presence of the HJURP HLA bindingpeptide in the biological sample. As used herein, “contacting” meansplacing the biological sample in sufficient proximity to the agent andunder the appropriate conditions of, e.g., concentration, temperature,time, ionic strength, to allow the specific interaction between theagent and HJURP HLA binding peptide that are present in the biologicalsample. In general, the conditions for contacting the agent with thebiological sample are conditions known by those of ordinary skill in theart to facilitate a specific interaction between a molecule and itscognate (e.g., a protein and its receptor cognate, an antibody and itsprotein antigen cognate, a nucleic acid and its complementary sequencecognate) in a biological sample. Exemplary conditions for facilitating aspecific interaction between a molecule and its cognate are described inU.S. Pat. No. 5,108,921, issued to Low et al.

The diagnostic method of the present invention can be performed ineither or both of in vivo and in vitro. Accordingly, biological samplecan be located in vivo or in vitro in the present invention. Forexample, the biological sample can be a tissue in vivo and the agentspecific for the HJURP immunogenic polypeptide can be used to detect thepresence of such molecules in the tissue. Alternatively, the biologicalsample can be collected or isolated in vitro (e.g., a blood sample,tumor biopsy, tissue extract). In a particularly preferred embodiment,the biological sample can be a cell-containing sample, more preferably asample containing tumor cells collected from a subject to be diagnosedor treated.

Alternatively, the diagnosis can be done, by a method which allowsdirect quantification of antigen-specific T cells by staining withFluorescein-labeled HLA multimeric complexes (e.g., Altman, J. D. etal., 1996, Science 274: 94; Altman, J. D. et al., 1993, Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA 90: 10330). Staining for intracellular lymphokines, andinterferon-gamma release assays or ELISPOT assays also has beenprovided. Multimer staining, intracellular lymphokine staining andELISPOT assays all appear to be at least 10-fold more sensitive thanmore conventional assays (Murali-Krishna, K. et al., 1998, Immunity 8:177; Lalvani, A. et al., 1997, J. Exp. Med. 186: 859; Dunbar, P. R. etal., 1998, Curr. Biol. 8: 413). Pentamers (e.g., US 2004-209295A),dextramers (e.g., WO 02/072631), and streptamers (e.g., Nature medicine6. 631-637 (2002)) may also be used.

For instance, in some embodiments, the present invention provides amethod for diagnosing or evaluating an immunological response of asubject administered at least one of HJURP peptides of the presentinvention, the method including the steps of:

(a) contacting an immunogen with immunocompetent cells under thecondition suitable of induction of CTL specific to the immunogen;

(b) detecting or determining induction level of the CTL induced in step(a); and

(c) correlating the immunological response of the subject with the CTLinduction level.

In the present invention, the immunogen is at least one of (a) a HJURPpeptide selected from among the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 2 to24 and 26 to 48, peptides having such amino acid sequences, and peptideshaving in which such amino acid sequences have been modified with 1, 2or more amino acid substitution(s). In the meantime, conditions suitableof induction of immunogen specific CTL are well known in the art. Forexample, immunocompetent cells may be cultured in vitro under thepresence of immunogen(s) to induce immunogen specific CTL. In order toinduce immunogen specific CTLs, any stimulating factors may be added tothe cell culture. For example, IL-2 is preferable stimulating factorsfor the CTL induction.

In some embodiments, the step of monitoring or evaluating immunologicalresponse of a subject to be treated with peptide cancer therapy may beperformed before, during and/or after the treatment. In general, duringa protocol of cancer therapy, immunogenic peptides are administeredrepeatedly to a subject to be treated. For example, immunogenic peptidesmay be administered every week for 3-10 weeks. Accordingly, theimmunological response of the subject can be evaluated or monitoredduring the cancer therapy protocol. Alternatively, the step ofevaluation or monitoring of immunological response to the cancer therapymay at the completion of the therapy protocol.

According to the present invention, enhanced induction of immunogenspecific CTL as compared with a control indicates that the subject to beevaluated or diagnosed immunologically responded to the immunogen(s)that has/have been administered. Suitable controls for evaluating theimmunological response may include, for example, a CTL induction levelwhen the immunocompetent cells are contacted with no peptide, or controlpeptide(s) having amino acid sequences other than any HJURP peptides.(e.g. random amino acid sequence). In a preferred embodiment, theimmunological response of the subject is evaluated in a sequencespecific manner, by comparison with an immunological response betweeneach immunogen administered to the subject. In particular, even when amixture of some kinds of HJURP peptides is administered to the subject,immunological response might vary depending on the peptides. In thatcase, by comparison of the immunological response between each peptide,peptides to which the subject show higher response can be identified.

XI. ANTIBODIES

The present invention further provides antibodies that bind to thepeptides of the present invention. Preferred antibodies specificallybind to the peptide of the present invention and will not bind (or willbind weakly) to non-peptide of the present invention. Alternatively,antibodies bind to the peptide of the invention as well as the homologsthereof. Antibodies against the peptide of the invention can find use incancer diagnostic and prognostic assays, and imaging methodologies.Similarly, such antibodies can find use in the treatment, diagnosis,and/or prognosis of other cancers, to the extent HJURP is also expressedor overexpressed in cancer patient. Moreover, intracellularly expressedantibodies (e.g., single chain antibodies) may therapeutically find usein treating cancers in which the expression of HJURP is involved,examples of which include, but are not limited to, AML, bladder cancer,breast cancer, cervical cancer, cholangiocellular carcinoma, CML,colorectal cancer, esophagus cancer, Diffused-type gastric cancer, livercancer, NSCLC, lymphoma, osteosarcoma, ovarian cancer, pancreaticcancer, prostate cancer, renal carcinoma, SCLC, soft tissue tumor andtesticular tumor.

The present invention also provides various immunological assay for thedetection and/or quantification of HJURP protein (SEQ ID NO: 50) orfragments thereof including a polypeptide having an amino acid sequenceselected from among SEQ ID NOs: 2 to 24 and 26 to 48. Such assays mayinclude one or more anti-HJURP antibodies capable of recognizing andbinding a HJURP protein or fragments thereof, as appropriate. In thepresent invention, anti-HJURP antibodies binding to HJURP polypeptidepreferably recognize a polypeptide having an amino acid sequenceselected from among SEQ ID NOs: 2 to 24 and 26 to 48. A bindingspecificity of antibody can be confirmed with inhibition test. That is,when the binding between an antibody to be analyzed and full-length ofHJURP polypeptide are inhibited under presence of any fragmentpolypeptides having an amino acid sequence selected from among SEQ IDNOs: 2 to 24 and 26 to 48, the antibody specifically binds to thefragment. In the present invention, such immunological assays areperformed within various immunological assay formats well known in theart, including but not limited to, various types of radio-immunoassays,immuno-chromatograph technique, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays(ELISA), enzyme-linked immunofluorescent assays (ELIFA), and the like.

Related immunological but non-antibody assays of the invention may alsoinclude T cell immunogenicity assays (inhibitory or stimulatory) as wellas MHC binding assays. In addition, immunological imaging methodscapable of detecting cancers expressing HJURP are also provided by theinvention, including, but not limited to, radioscintigraphic imagingmethods using labeled antibodies of the present invention. Such assayscan clinically find use in the detection, monitoring, and prognosis ofHJURP expressing cancers including, but not limited to, AML, bladdercancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, cholangiocellular carcinoma,CML, colorectal cancer, esophagus cancer, Diffused-type gastric cancer,liver cancer, NSCLC, lymphoma, osteosarcoma, ovarian cancer, pancreaticcancer, prostate cancer, renal carcinoma, SCLC, soft tissue tumor andtesticular tumor.

The present invention also provides an antibody that binds to thepeptide of the invention. The antibody of the invention can be used inany form, such as monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies, and includeantiserum obtained by immunizing an animal such as a rabbit with thepeptide of the invention, all classes of polyclonal and monoclonalantibodies, human antibodies and humanized antibodies produced bygenetic recombination.

A peptide of the invention used as an antigen to obtain an antibody maybe derived from any animal species, but preferably is derived from amammal such as a human, mouse, or rat, more preferably from a human. Ahuman-derived peptide may be obtained from the nucleotide or amino acidsequences disclosed herein.

According to the present invention, the peptide to be used as animmunization antigen may be a complete protein or a partial peptide ofthe protein. A partial peptide may include, for example, the amino(N)-terminal or carboxy (C)-terminal fragment of a peptide of thepresent invention.

Herein, an antibody is defined as a protein that reacts with either thefull length or a fragment of a HJURP peptide. In a preferred embodiment,antibody of the present invention can recognize fragment peptides ofHJURP having an amino acid sequence selected from among SEQ ID NOs: 2 to24 and 26 to 48. Methods for synthesizing oligopeptide are well known inthe arts. After the synthesis, peptides may be optionally purified priorto use as immunogen. In the present invention, the oligopeptide (e.g.,9- or 10mer) may be conjugated or linked with carriers to enhance theimmunogenicity. Keyhole-limpet hemocyanin (KLH) is well known as thecarrier. Method for conjugating KLH and peptide are also well known inthe arts.

Alternatively, a gene encoding a peptide of the invention or fragmentthereof may be inserted into a known expression vector, which is thenused to transform a host cell as described herein. The desired peptideor fragment thereof may be recovered from the outside or inside of hostcells by any standard method, and may subsequently be used as anantigen. Alternatively, whole cells expressing the peptide or theirlysates or a chemically synthesized peptide may be used as the antigen.

Any mammalian animal may be immunized with the antigen, but preferablythe compatibility with parental cells used for cell fusion is taken intoaccount. In general, animals of Rodentia, Lagomorpha or Primate familymay be used. Animals of the family Rodentia include, for example, mouse,rat and hamster. Animals of the family Lagomorpha include, for example,rabbit. Animals of the Primate family include, for example, a monkey ofCatarrhini (old world monkey) such as Macaca fascicularis, rhesusmonkey, sacred baboon and chimpanzees.

Methods for immunizing animals with antigens are known in the art.Intraperitoneal injection or subcutaneous injection of antigens is astandard method for immunization of mammals. More specifically, antigensmay be diluted and suspended in an appropriate amount of phosphatebuffered saline (PBS), physiological saline, etc. If desired, theantigen suspension may be mixed with an appropriate amount of a standardadjuvant, such as Freund's complete adjuvant, made into emulsion andthen administered to mammalian animals. Preferably, it is followed byseveral administrations of antigen mixed with an appropriately amount ofFreund's incomplete adjuvant every 4 to 21 days. An appropriate carriermay also be used for immunization. After immunization as above, serummay be examined by a standard method for an increase in the amount ofdesired antibodies.

Polyclonal antibodies against the peptides of the present invention maybe prepared by collecting blood from the immunized mammal examined forthe increase of desired antibodies in the serum, and by separating serumfrom the blood by any conventional method. Polyclonal antibodies includeserum containing the polyclonal antibodies, as well as the fractioncontaining the polyclonal antibodies may be isolated from the serum.Immunoglobulin G or M can be prepared from a fraction which recognizesonly the peptide of the present invention using, for example, anaffinity column coupled with the peptide of the present invention, andfurther purifying this fraction using protein A or protein G column.

To prepare monoclonal antibodies, immune cells are collected from themammal immunized with the antigen and checked for the increased level ofdesired antibodies in the serum as described above, and are subjected tocell fusion. The immune cells used for cell fusion may preferably beobtained from spleen. Other preferred parental cells to be fused withthe above immunocyte include, for example, myeloma cells of mammalians,and more preferably myeloma cells having an acquired property for theselection of fused cells by drugs.

The above immunocyte and myeloma cells can be fused according to knownmethods, for example, the method of Milstein et al. (Galfre andMilstein, Methods Enzymol 73: 3-46 (1981)).

Resulting hybridomas obtained by the cell fusion may be selected bycultivating them in a standard selection medium, such as HAT medium(hypoxanthine, aminopterin and thymidine containing medium). The cellculture is typically continued in the HAT medium for several days toseveral weeks, the time being sufficient to allow all the other cells,with the exception of the desired hybridoma (non-fused cells), to die.Then, the standard limiting dilution may be performed to screen andclone a hybridoma cell producing the desired antibody.

In addition to the above method, in which a non-human animal isimmunized with an antigen for preparing hybridoma, human lymphocytessuch as those infected by EB virus may be immunized with a peptide,peptide expressing cells or their lysates in vitro. Then, the immunizedlymphocytes are fused with human-derived myeloma cells that are capableof indefinitely dividing, such as U266, to yield a hybridoma producing adesired human antibody that is able to bind to the peptide can beobtained (Unexamined Published Japanese Patent Application No. Sho63-17688).

The obtained hybridomas are subsequently transplanted into the abdominalcavity of a mouse and the ascites are extracted. The obtained monoclonalantibodies can be purified by, for example, ammonium sulfateprecipitation, a protein A or protein G column, DEAE ion exchangechromatography or an affinity column to which the peptide of the presentinvention is coupled. The antibody of the present invention can be usednot only for purification and detection of the peptide of the presentinvention, but also as a candidate for agonists and antagonists of thepeptide of the present invention.

Alternatively, an immune cell, such as an immunized lymphocyte,producing antibodies may be immortalized by an oncogene and used forpreparing monoclonal antibodies.

Monoclonal antibodies thus obtained can be also recombinantly preparedusing genetic engineering techniques (see, for example, Borrebaeck andLarrick, Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies, published in the UnitedKingdom by MacMillan Publishers LTD (1990)). For example, a DNA encodingan antibody may be cloned from an immune cell, such as a hybridoma or animmunized lymphocyte producing the antibody, inserted into anappropriate vector, and introduced into host cells to prepare arecombinant antibody. The present invention also provides recombinantantibodies prepared as described above.

Furthermore, an antibody of the present invention may be a fragment ofan antibody or modified antibody, so long as it binds to one or more ofthe peptides of the invention. For instance, the antibody fragment maybe Fab, F(ab′)₂, Fv or single chain Fv (scFv), in which Fv fragmentsfrom H and L chains are ligated by an appropriate linker (Huston et al.,Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 85: 5879-83 (1988)). More specifically, anantibody fragment may be generated by treating an antibody with anenzyme, such as papain or pepsin. Alternatively, a gene encoding theantibody fragment may be constructed, inserted into an expression vectorand expressed in an appropriate host cell (see, for example, Co et al.,J Immunol 152: 2968-76 (1994); Better and Horwitz, Methods Enzymol 178:476-96 (1989); Pluckthun and Skerra, Methods Enzymol 178: 497-515(1989); Lamoyi, Methods Enzymol 121: 652-63 (1986); Rousseaux et al.,Methods Enzymol 121: 663-9 (1986); Bird and Walker, Trends Biotechnol 9:132-7 (1991)).

An antibody may be modified by conjugation with a variety of molecules,such as polyethylene glycol (PEG). The present invention provides forsuch modified antibodies. The modified antibody can be obtained bychemically modifying an antibody. These modification methods areconventional in the field.

Alternatively, an antibody of the present invention may be obtained as achimeric antibody, between a variable region derived from nonhumanantibody and the constant region derived from human antibody, or as ahumanized antibody, including the complementarity determining region(CDR) derived from nonhuman antibody, the frame work region (FR) and theconstant region derived from human antibody. Such antibodies can beprepared according to known technology. Humanization can be performed bysubstituting rodent CDRs or CDR sequences for the correspondingsequences of a human antibody (see, e.g., Verhoeyen et al., Science239:1534-1536 (1988)). Accordingly, such humanized antibodies arechimeric antibodies, wherein substantially less than an intact humanvariable domain has been substituted by the corresponding sequence froma non-human species.

Fully human antibodies including human variable regions in addition tohuman framework and constant regions can also be used. Such antibodiescan be produced using various techniques known in the art. For example,in vitro methods involve use of recombinant libraries of human antibodyfragments displayed on bacteriophage (e.g., Hoogenboom & Winter, J. Mol.Biol. 227:381 (1991). Similarly, human antibodies can be made byintroducing of human immunoglobulin loci into transgenic animals, e.g.,mice in which the endogenous immunoglobulin genes have been partially orcompletely inactivated. This approach is described, e.g., in U.S. Pat.Nos. 6,150,584, 5,545,807; 5,545,806; 5,569,825; 5,625,126; 5,633,425;5,661,016.

Antibodies obtained as above may be purified to homogeneity. Forexample, the separation and purification of the antibody can beperformed according to the separation and purification methods used forgeneral proteins. For example, the antibody may be separated andisolated by the appropriately selected and combined use of columnchromatographies, such as affinity chromatography, filter,ultrafiltration, salting-out, dialysis, SDS polyacrylamide gelelectrophoresis and isoelectric focusing (Antibodies: A LaboratoryManual. Ed Harlow and David Lane, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (1988)),but are not limited thereto. A protein A column and protein G column canbe used as the affinity column. Exemplary protein A columns to be usedinclude, for example, Hyper D, POROS and Sepharose F.F. (Pharmacia).

Exemplary chromatography, with the exception of affinity includes, forexample, ion-exchange chromatography, hydrophobic chromatography, gelfiltration, reverse phase chromatography, adsorption chromatography andthe like (Strategies for Protein Purification and Characterization: ALaboratory Course Manual. Ed Daniel R. Marshak et al., Cold SpringHarbor Laboratory Press (1996)). The chromatographic procedures can becarried out by liquid-phase chromatography, such as HPLC and FPLC.

For example, measurement of absorbance, enzyme-linked immunosorbentassay (ELISA), enzyme immunoassay (EIA), radioimmunoassay (RIA) and/orimmunofluorescence may be used to measure the antigen binding activityof the antibody of the invention. In ELISA, the antibody of the presentinvention is immobilized on a plate, a peptide of the invention isapplied to the plate, and then a sample containing a desired antibody,such as culture supernatant of antibody producing cells or purifiedantibodies, is applied. Then, a secondary antibody that recognizes theprimary antibody and is labeled with an enzyme, such as alkalinephosphatase, is applied, and the plate is incubated. Next, afterwashing, an enzyme substrate, such as p-nitrophenyl phosphate, is addedto the plate, and the absorbance is measured to evaluate the antigenbinding activity of the sample. A fragment of the peptide, such as aC-terminal or N-terminal fragment, may be used as the antigen toevaluate the binding activity of the antibody. BIAcore (Pharmacia) maybe used to evaluate the activity of the antibody according to thepresent invention.

The above methods allow for the detection or measurement of the peptideof the invention, by exposing the antibody of the invention to a sampleassumed to contain the peptide of the invention, and detecting ormeasuring the immune complex formed by the antibody and the peptide.

Because the method of detection or measurement of the peptide accordingto the invention can specifically detect or measure a peptide, themethod can find use in a variety of experiments in which the peptide isused.

XII. VECTORS AND HOST CELLS

The present invention also provides a vector and host cell into which anucleotide encoding the peptide of the present invention is introduced.A vector of the present invention can find use to keep a nucleotide,especially a DNA, of the present invention in host cell, to express thepeptide of the present invention, or to administer the nucleotide of thepresent invention for gene therapy.

When E. coli is a host cell and the vector is amplified and produced ina large amount in E. coli (e.g., JM109, DH5 alpha, HB101 or XL1Blue),the vector should have “ori” to be amplified in E. coli and a markergene for selecting transformed E. coli (e.g., a drug-resistance geneselected by a drug such as ampicillin, tetracycline, kanamycin,chloramphenicol or the like). For example, M13-series vectors,pUC-series vectors, pBR322, pBluescript, pCR-Script, etc., can be used.In addition, pGEM-T, pDIRECT and pT7 can also be used for subcloning andextracting cDNA as well as the vectors described above. When a vector isused to produce the protein of the present invention, an expressionvector can find use. For example, an expression vector to be expressedin E. coli should have the above characteristics to be amplified in E.coli. When E. coli, such as JM109, DH5 alpha, HB101 or XL1 Blue, areused as a host cell, the vector should have a promoter, for example,lacZ promoter (Ward et al., Nature 341: 544-6 (1989); FASEB J 6: 2422-7(1992)), araB promoter (Better et al., Science 240: 1041-3 (1988)), T7promoter or the like, that can efficiently express the desired gene inE. coli. In that respect, pGEX-5X-1 (Pharmacia), “QIAexpress system”(Qiagen), pEGFP and pET (in this case, the host is preferably BL21 whichexpresses T7 RNA polymerase), for example, can be used instead of theabove vectors. Additionally, the vector may also contain a signalsequence for peptide secretion. An exemplary signal sequence thatdirects the peptide to be secreted to the periplasm of the E. coli isthe pelB signal sequence (Lei et al., J Bacteriol 169: 4379 (1987)).Means for introducing of the vectors into the target host cells include,for example, the calcium chloride method, and the electroporationmethod.

In addition to E. coli, for example, expression vectors derived frommammals (for example, pcDNA3 (Invitrogen) and pEGF-BOS (Nucleic AcidsRes 18(17): 5322 (1990)), pEF, pCDM8), expression vectors derived frominsect cells (for example, “Bac-to-BAC baculovirus expression system”(GIBCO BRL), pBacPAK8), expression vectors derived from plants (e.g.,pMH1, pMH2), expression vectors derived from animal viruses (e.g., pHSV,pMV, pAdexLcw), expression vectors derived from retroviruses (e.g.,pZIpneo), expression vector derived from yeast (e.g., “Pichia ExpressionKit” (Invitrogen), pNV11, SP-Q01) and expression vectors derived fromBacillus subtilis (e.g., pPL608, pKTH50) can be used for producing thepolypeptide of the present invention.

In order to express the vector in animal cells, such as CHO, COS orNIH3T3 cells, the vector should have a promoter necessary for expressionin such cells, for example, the SV40 promoter (Mulligan et al., Nature277: 108 (1979)), the MMLV-LTR promoter, the EF1 alpha promoter(Mizushima et al., Nucleic Acids Res 18: 5322 (1990)), the CMV promoterand the like, and preferably a marker gene for selecting transformants(for example, a drug resistance gene selected by a drug (e.g., neomycin,G418)). Examples of known vectors with these characteristics include,for example, pMAM, pDR2, pBK-RSV, pBK-CMV, pOPRSV and pOP13.

The following examples are presented to illustrate the present inventionand to assist one of ordinary skill in making and using the same. Theexamples are not intended in any way to otherwise limit the scope of theinvention.

EXAMPLE Example 1 Materials and Methods

Cell Lines

TISI, HLA-A*2402-positive B-lymphoblastoid cell line, was purchased fromthe IHWG Cell and Gene Bank (Seattle, Wash.). COS7, African green monkeykidney cell line, was purchased from ATCC.

Candidate Selection of Peptides Derived from HJURP

9-mer and 10-mer peptides derived from HJURP that bind to HLA-A*2402molecule were predicted using binding prediction software “BIMAS”(www-bimas.cit.nih.gov/molbio/hla_bind) (Parker et al. (J Immunol 1994,152(1): 163-75), Kuzushima et al. (Blood 2001, 98(6): 1872-81)) and“NetMHC 3.0” (www.cbs.dtu.dk/services/NetMHC/) (Buus et al. (TissueAntigens., 62:378-84, 2003), Nielsen et al. (Protein Sci., 12:1007-17,2003, Bioinformatics, 20(9):1388-97, 2004)). These peptides weresynthesized by Biosynthesis (Lewisville, Tex.) according to a standardsolid phase synthesis method and purified by reversed phase highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The purity (>90%) and theidentity of the peptides were determined by analytical HPLC and massspectrometry analysis, respectively. Peptides were dissolved indimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) at 20 mg/ml and stored at −80 degrees C.

In Vitro CTL Induction

Monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) were used as antigen-presentingcells (APCs) to induce cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses againstpeptides presented on human leukocyte antigen (HLA). DCs were generatedin vitro as described elsewhere (Nakahara S et al., Cancer Res 2003 Jul.15, 63(14): 4112-8). Specifically, peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) isolated from a normal volunteer (HLA-A*2402 positive) byFicoll-Plaque (Pharmacia) solution were separated by adherence to aplastic tissue culture dish (Becton Dickinson) so as to enrich them asthe monocyte fraction. The monocyte-enriched population was cultured inthe presence of 1,000 U/ml of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulatingfactor (GM-CSF) (R&D System) and 1,000 U/ml of interleukin (IL)-4 (R&DSystem) in AIM-V Medium (Invitrogen) containing 2% heat-inactivatedautologous serum (AS). After 7 days of culture, the cytokine-induced DCswere pulsed with 20 micro-g/ml of each of the synthesized peptides inthe presence of 3 micro-g/ml of beta 2-microglobulin for 3 hrs at 37degrees C. in AIM-V Medium. The generated cells appeared to expressDC-associated molecules, such as CD80, CD83, CD86 and HLA class II, ontheir cell surfaces (data not shown). These peptide-pulsed DCs were theninactivated by X-irradiation (20 Gy) and mixed at a 1:20 ratio withautologous CD8+ T cells, obtained by positive selection with CD8Positive Isolation Kit (Dynal). These cultures were set up in 48-wellplates (Corning); each well contained 1.5×10⁴ peptide-pulsed DCs, 3×10⁵CD8+ T cells and 10 ng/ml of IL-7 (R&D System) in 0.5 ml of AIM-V/2% ASmedium. Three days later, these cultures were supplemented with IL-2(CHIRON) to a final concentration of 20 IU/ml. On days 7 and 14, the Tcells were further stimulated with the autologous peptide-pulsed DCs.The DCs were prepared each time by the same way described above. CTL wastested against peptide-pulsed TISI cells after the 3rd round of peptidestimulation on day 21 (Tanaka H et al., Br J Cancer 2001 Jan. 5, 84(1):94-9; Umano Y et al., Br J Cancer 2001 Apr. 20, 84(8): 1052-7; Uchida Net al., Clin Cancer Res 2004 Dec. 15, 10(24): 8577-86; Suda T et al.,Cancer Sci 2006 May, 97(5): 411-9; Watanabe T et al., Cancer Sci 2005August, 96(8): 498-506).

CTL Expansion Procedure

CTLs were expanded in culture using the method similar to the onedescribed by Riddell et al. (Walter E A et al., N Engl J Med 1995 Oct.19, 333(16): 1038-44; Riddell S R et al., Nat Med 1996 February, 2(2):216-23). A total of 5×10⁴ CTLs were suspended in 25 ml of AIM-V/5% ASmedium with 2 kinds of human B-lymphoblastoid cell lines, inactivated byMitomycin C, in the presence of 40 ng/ml of anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody(Pharmingen). One day after initiating the cultures, 120 IU/ml of IL-2were added to the cultures. The cultures were fed with fresh AIM-V/5% ASmedium containing 30 IU/ml of IL-2 on days 5, 8 and 11 (Tanaka H et al.,Br J Cancer 2001 Jan. 5, 84(1): 94-9; Umano Y et al., Br J Cancer 2001Apr. 20, 84(8): 1052-7; Uchida N et al., Clin Cancer Res 2004 Dec. 15,10(24): 8577-86; Suda T et al., Cancer Sci 2006 May, 97(5): 411-9;Watanabe T et al., Cancer Sci 2005 August, 96(8): 498-506).

Establishment of CTL Clones

The dilutions were made to have 0.3, 1, and 3 CTLs/well in 96round-bottomed micro titer plate (Nalge Nunc International). CTLs werecultured with 1×10⁴ cells/well of 2 kinds of human B-lymphoblastoid celllines, 30 ng/ml of anti-CD3 antibody, and 125 U/ml of IL-2 in a total of150 micro-Dwell of AIM-V Medium containing 5% AS. 50 micro-1/well ofIL-2 were added to the medium 10 days later so to reach a finalconcentration of 125 U/ml IL-2. CTL activity was tested on the 14th day,and CTL clones were expanded using the same method as described above(Uchida N et al., Clin Cancer Res 2004 Dec. 15, 10(24): 8577-86; Suda Tet al., Cancer Sci 2006 May, 97(5): 411-9; Watanabe T et al., Cancer Sci2005 August, 96(8): 498-506).

Specific CTL Activity

To examine specific CTL activity, interferon (IFN)-gamma enzyme-linkedimmunospot (ELISPOT) assay and IFN-gamma enzyme-linked immunosorbentassay (ELISA) were performed. Specifically, peptide-pulsed TISI (1×10⁴cells/well) was prepared as stimulator cells. Cultured cells in 48 wellswere used as responder cells. IFN-gamma ELISPOT assay and IFN-gammaELISA assay were performed under manufacture procedure.

Plasmid Transfection

The cDNA encoding an open reading frame of target genes or HLA-A*2402was amplified by PCR. The PCR-amplified products were cloned into avector and pIRES vector (Clontech Laboratories, Inc., Cat. No. 631605).The plasmids were transfected into COST, which is the target genes andHLA-A24 negative cell line, using lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen)according to the manufacturer's recommended procedures. After 2 daysfrom transfection, the transfected cells were harvested with versene(Invitrogen) and used as the target cells (5×10⁴ cells/well) for CTLactivity assay.

Results

Enhanced HJURP Expression in Cancers

The global gene expression profile data obtained from various cancersusing cDNA-microarray revealed that HJURP (GenBank Accession No.NM_(—)018410; SEQ ID No: 49) expression was elevated. HJURP expressionwas validly elevated in 3 out of 15 AMLs, 25 out of 26 bladder cancers,29 out of 33 breast cancers, 8 out of 9 cervical cancers, 11 out of 11cholangiocellular carcinoma, 25 out of 33 CMLs, 4 out of 12 colorectalcancers, 29 out of 40 esophagus cancers, 1 out of 3 gastric cancerdiffused-type, 4 out of 4 liver cancer, 12 out of 12 NSCLC, 2 out of 3lymphoma, 8 out of 11 osteosarcomas, 3 out of 5 ovarian cancer, 4 out of4 pancreatic cancer, 12 out of 18 prostate cancer, 4 out of 7 renalcarcinomas, 13 out of 13 SCLC, 8 out of 14 soft tissue tumor and 6 outof 9 testicular tumor as compared with corresponding normal tissue(Table 1).

TABLE 1 Ratio of cases observed up-regulation of HJURP in canceroustissue as compared with normal corresponding tissue AML  3/15 Bladdercancer 25/26 Breast cancer 29/33 Cervical cancer 8/9 Cholangiocellularcarcinoma 11/11 CML 25/33 Colorectal cancer  4/12 Esophagus cancer 29/40Gastric cancer Diffused-type 1/3 Liver cancer 4/4 NSCLC 12/12 Lymphoma2/3 Osteosarcoma  8/11 Ovarian cancer 3/5 Pancreatic cancer 4/4 Prostatecancer 12/18 Renal carcinoma 4/7 SCLC 13/13 Soft tissue tumor  8/14Testicular tumor 6/9

Prediction of HLA-A24 Binding Peptides Derived from HJURP

Tables 2a and 2b shows the HLA-A24 binding 9mer and 10mer peptides ofHJURP in the order of high binding affinity. 15 peptides (SEQ ID NO: 1-6and SEQ ID NO: 10-18) were selected by using BIMAS, and 9 peptides (SEQID NO: 7-9 and SEQ ID NO: 19-24) were predicted by NetMHC3.0. A total of24 peptides with potential HLA-A24 binding ability were selected andexamined to determine the epitope peptides.

TABLE 2  HLA-A24 binding 9mer peptides derived from HJURP Startamino acid Position sequence Score SEQ ID NO 149 KYLTQVDIL 600 1 576RYDEIKEEF 369.5 2 28 RFQRRMQRL 72 3 263 LYAGMLHSM 25 4 403 RFRTLKWLI 125 388 IYFDSSATY 6 6 Start amino acid Position sequence Kd (nM) SEQ ID NO408 KWLISPVKI 55 7 544 VQGNSSGIF 3458 8 280 SSIISTKTF 6673 9

TABLE 2b  HLA-A24 binding 10mer peptides derived from HJURP Startamino acid Position sequence score SEQ ID NO 149 KYLTQVDILL 840 10 395TYNLDEENRF 180 11 729 SYRMEEKSDF 100 12 56 TYETPQGLRI 75 13 590KYCLKSPGQM 50 14 635 GFQKLPSSPL 30 15 389 YFDSSATYNL 20 16 28 RFQRRMQRLI15 17 383 KYSSLIYFDS 14 18 Start amino acid Kd Position sequence (nM)SEQ ID NO 379 VTPSKYSSLI 458 19 235 SLQETSSSSF 8454 20 218 LHPSSTDMAL13453 21 388 IYFDSSATYN 13358 22 162 EYFECAGNRA 14992 23 627 LNPDPHFQGF19791 24

Start position indicates the number of amino acid residue from theN-terminus of HJURP. Binding score and dissociation constant [Kd (nM)]are derived from “BIMAS” and “NetMHC3.0”.

CTL Induction with the Predicted Peptides from HJURP Restricted withHLA-A*2402 and Establishment for CTL Lines Stimulated with HJURP DerivedPeptides

CTLs for those peptides derived from HJURP were generated according tothe protocols as described in “Materials and Methods”. Peptide specificCTL activity was determined by IFN-gamma ELISPOT assay (FIGS. 1 a-e).Well number #4 with HJURP-A24-9-28 (SEQ ID NO: 3) (a), #4 withHJURP-A24-9-263 (SEQ ID NO: 4) (b), #4 with HJURP-A24-9-408 (SEQ ID NO:7) (c), #6 with HJURP-A24-10-383 (SEQ ID NO: 18) (d) and #4 withHJURP-A24-10-162 (SEQ ID NO: 23) (e) demonstrated potent IFN-gammaproduction as compared to the control wells. On the other hand, nopotent IFN-gamma production could be detected by stimulation with otherpeptides shown in Tables 2a and 2b, despite those peptides had possiblebinding activity with HLA-A*2402. As is typical of negative data, aspecific CTL response was not observed from the peptide-pulsed targetcells stimulated with HJURP-A24-9-149 (SEQ ID NO: 1) (f). As a result, 5peptides derived from HJURP were identified as having the potential toinduce potent CTLs.

Establishment of CTL Lines and Clones Against HJURP Specific Peptides

The cells that showed peptide specific CTL activity detected byIFN-gamma ELISPOT assay in the well number #4 with HJURP-A24-9-263 (SEQID NO: 4) and in #4 with HJURP-A24-9-408 (SEQ ID NO: 7) were expandedand CTL lines were established by limiting dilution as described in the“Materials and Methods” section above. CTL activity of those CTL lineswas determined by IFN-gamma ELISA assay (FIGS. 2 a and b). The CTL linesdemonstrated potent IFN-gamma production against the target cells pulsedwith corresponding peptide as compared to target cells without peptidepulse. Furthermore, CTL clone was established by limiting dilution fromthe CTL line, and IFN-gamma production from CTL clone against targetcells pulsed peptide was determined by IFN-gamma ELISA assay. PotentIFN-gamma production was determined from CTL clone stimulated withHJURP-A24-9-408 (SEQ ID NO: 7) in FIG. 3.

Specific CTL Activity Against Target Cells Exogenously Expressing HJURPand HLA-A*2402

The established CTL line raised against these peptides were examined fortheir ability to recognize target cells that endogenously express HJURPand HLA-A*2402 gene. Specific CTL activity against COS7 cells whichtransfected with both the full length of HJURP and HLA-A*2402 gene (aspecific model for the target cells that endogenously express HJURP andHLA-A*2402 gene) was tested using the CTL lines raised by correspondingpeptide as the effecter cells. COS7 cells transfected with either fulllength of HJURP genes or HLA-A*2402 were prepared as controls. In FIG.4, the CTLs stimulated with HJURP-A24-9-408 (SEQ ID NO: 7) (a) andHJURP-A24-9-263 (SEQ ID NO: 4) (b) showed potent CTL activity againstCOS7 cells expressing both HJURP and HLA-A*2402. On the other hand, nosignificant specific CTL activity was detected against the controls.Thus, these data clearly demonstrated that peptides of HJURP-A24-9-408(SEQ ID NO: 7) and HJURP-A24-9-263 (SEQ ID NO: 4) were endogenouslyprocessed and expressed on the target cells with HLA-A*2402 molecule andwere recognized by the CTLs. These results indicate that this peptidederived from HJURP may be suitable as a cancer vaccine for the treatmentof patients with HJURP expressing tumors.

Homology Analysis of Antigen Peptides

The CTLs stimulated with HJURP-A24-9-28 (SEQ ID NO: 3), HJURP-A24-9-263(SEQ ID NO: 4), HJURP-A24-9-408 (SEQ ID NO: 7), HJURP-A24-10-383 (SEQ IDNO: 19) and HJURP-A24-10-162 (SEQ ID NO: 23) showed significant andspecific CTL activity. This result may be due to the fact that thesequences of HJURP-A24-9-28 (SEQ ID NO: 3), HJURP-A24-9-263 (SEQ ID NO:4), HJURP-A24-9-408 (SEQ ID NO: 7), HJURP-A24-10-383 (SEQ ID NO: 18) andHJURP-A24-10-162 (SEQ ID NO: 23) are homologous to peptides derived fromother molecules that are known to sensitize the human immune system. Toexclude this possibility, homology analyses were performed for thesepeptide sequences using as queries the BLAST algorithm(www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/blast/blast.cgi) which revealed no sequence withsignificant homology. The results of homology analyses indicate that thesequences of HJURP-A24-9-28 (SEQ ID NO: 3), HJURP-A24-9-263 (SEQ ID NO:4), HJURP-A24-9-408 (SEQ ID NO: 7), HJURP-A24-10-383 (SEQ ID NO: 18) andHJURP-A24-10-162 (SEQ ID NO: 23) are unique and thus, there is littlepossibility, to our best knowledge, that these molecules raiseunintended immunologic response to some unrelated molecule.

In conclusion, novel HLA-A24 epitope peptide derived from HJURP wereidentified. Furthermore, the results herein demonstrate that epitopepeptide of HJURP may be suitable for use in for cancer immunotherapy.

Examples 2 Materials and Methods

Cell Lines

T2, HLA-A*0201-positive B-lymphoblastoid cell line, and COS7, Africangreen monkey kidney cell line, were purchased from ATCC.

Candidate Selection of Peptides Derived from HJURP

9-mer and 10-mer peptides derived from HJURP that bind to HLA-A*0201molecule were predicted using binding prediction software “NetMHC 3.0”(www.cbs.dtu.dk/services/NetMHC/) (Buus et al. (Tissue Antigens.,62:378-84, 2003), Nielsen et al. (Protein Sci., 12:1007-17, 2003,Bioinformatics, 20(9):1388-97, 2004)). These peptides were synthesizedby Biosynthesis (Lewisville, Tex.) according to a standard solid phasesynthesis method and purified by reversed phase high performance liquidchromatography (HPLC). The purity (>90%) and the identity of thepeptides were determined by analytical HPLC and mass spectrometryanalysis, respectively. Peptides were dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide(DMSO) at 20 mg/ml and stored at −80 degrees C.

In Vitro CTL Induction

Monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) were used as antigen-presentingcells to induce cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses against peptidespresented on human leukocyte antigen (HLA). DCs were generated in vitroas described elsewhere (Nakahara S et al., Cancer Res 2003 Jul. 15,63(14): 4112-8). Specifically, peripheral blood mononuclear cellsisolated from a normal volunteer (HLA-A*0201 positive) by Ficoll-Plaque(Pharmacia) solution were separated by adherence to a plastic tissueculture dish (Becton Dickinson) so as to enrich them as the monocytefraction. The monocyte-enriched population was cultured in the presenceof 1,000 U/ml of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (R&DSystem) and 1,000 U/ml of interleukin (IL)-4 (R&D System) in AIM-VMedium (Invitrogen) containing 2% heat-inactivated autologous serum(AS). After 7 days of culture, the cytokine-induced DCs were pulsed with20 micro-g/ml of each of the synthesized peptides in the presence of 3micro-g/ml of beta 2-microglobulin for 3 hrs at 37 degrees C. in AIM-VMedium. The generated cells appeared to express DC-associated molecules,such as CD80, CD83, CD86 and HLA class II, on their cell surfaces (datanot shown). These peptide-pulsed DCs were then inactivated byX-irradiation (20 Gy) and mixed at a 1:20 ratio with autologous CD8+ Tcells, obtained by positive selection with CD8 Positive Isolation Kit(Dynal). These cultures were set up in 48-well plates (Corning); eachwell contained 1.5×10⁴ peptide-pulsed DCs, 3×10⁵ CD8+ T cells and 10ng/ml of IL-7 (R&D System) in 0.5 ml of AIM-V/2% AS medium. Three dayslater, these cultures were supplemented with IL-2 (CHIRON) to a finalconcentration of 20 IU/ml. On days 7 and 14, the T cells were furtherstimulated with the autologous peptide-pulsed DCs. The DCs were preparedeach time by the same way described above. CTLs were tested againstpeptide-pulsed T2 cells after the 3rd round of peptide stimulation onday 21 (Tanaka H et al., Br J Cancer 2001 Jan. 5, 84(1): 94-9; Umano Yet al., Br J Cancer 2001 Apr. 20, 84(8): 1052-7; Uchida N et al., ClinCancer Res 2004 Dec. 15, 10(24): 8577-86; Suda T et al., Cancer Sci 2006May, 97(5): 411-9; Watanabe T et al., Cancer Sci 2005 August, 96(8):498-506).

CTL Expansion Procedure

CTLs were expanded in culture using the method similar to the onedescribed by Riddell et al. (Walter E A et al., N Engl J Med 1995 Oct.19, 333(16): 1038-44; Riddell S R et al., Nat Med 1996 February, 2(2):216-23). A total of 5×10⁴ CTLs were suspended in 25 ml of AIM-V/5% ASmedium with 2 kinds of human B-lymphoblastoid cell lines, inactivated byMitomycin C, in the presence of 40 ng/ml of anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody(Pharmingen). One day after initiating the cultures, 120 IU/ml of IL-2were added to the cultures. The cultures were fed with fresh AIM-V/5% ASmedium containing 30 IU/ml of IL-2 on days 5, 8 and 11 (Tanaka H et al.,Br J Cancer 2001 Jan. 5, 84(1): 94-9; Umano Y et al., Br J Cancer 2001Apr. 20, 84(8): 1052-7; Uchida N et al., Clin Cancer Res 2004 Dec. 15,10(24): 8577-86; Suda T et al., Cancer Sci 2006 May, 97(5): 411-9;Watanabe T et al., Cancer Sci 2005 August, 96(8): 498-506).

Establishment of CTL Clones

The dilutions were made to have 0.3, 1, and 3 CTLs/well in 96round-bottomed micro titer plate (Nalge Nunc International). CTLs werecultured with 1×10⁴ cells/well of 2 kinds of human B-lymphoblastoid celllines, 30 ng/ml of anti-CD3 antibody, and 125 U/ml of IL-2 in a total of150 micro-Dwell of AIM-V Medium containing 5% AS. 50 micro-l/well ofIL-2 were added to the medium 10 days later so to reach a finalconcentration of 125 U/ml IL-2. CTL activity was tested on the 14th day,and CTL clones were expanded using the same method as described above(Uchida N et al., Clin Cancer Res 2004 Dec. 15, 10(24): 8577-86; Suda Tet al., Cancer Sci 2006 May, 97(5): 411-9; Watanabe T et al., Cancer Sci2005 August, 96(8): 498-506).

Specific CTL Activity

To examine specific CTL activity, interferon (IFN)-gamma enzyme-linkedimmunospot (ELISPOT) assay and IFN-gamma enzyme-linked immunosorbentassay (ELISA) were performed. Specifically, peptide-pulsed T2(1×10⁴/well) was prepared as stimulator cells. Cultured cells in 48wells were used as responder cells. IFN-gamma ELISPOT assay andIFN-gamma ELISA assay were performed under manufacture procedure.

Establishment of the Cells Forcibly Expressing Either or Both of theTarget Gene and HLA-A02

The cDNA encoding an open reading frame of target genes or HLA-A*0201was amplified by PCR. The PCR-amplified products were cloned into pIRESvector (Clontech Laboratories, Inc., Cat. No. 631605). The plasmids weretransfected into COS7, which is the target genes and HLA-A02-negativecell line, using lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen) according to themanufacturer's recommended procedures. After 2 days from transfection,the transfected cells were harvested with versene (Invitrogen) and usedas the target cells (5×10⁴ cells/well) for CTL activity assay.

Results

Prediction of HLA-A*0201 Binding Peptides Derived from HJURP

Tables 3a and 3b show the HLA-A2 binding 9mer and 10mer peptides ofHJURP in the order of high binding affinity. A total of 24 peptides withpotential HLA-A2 binding ability were selected and examined to determinethe epitope peptides.

TABLE 3a HLA-A2 binding 9mer peptides derived from HJURP Start aminoPosition acid sequence Kd (nM) SEQ ID NO 150 YLTQVDILL 14 25 496SLSEAFENL 21 26 354 KLEKAFLEV 52 27 266 GMLHSMSRL 84 28 51 QMATLTYET 10029 406 TLKWLISPV 118 30 129 VAWALAPAV 135 31 599 MTVPLCIGV 153 32 226ALVPRNDSL 204 33 274 LLSTKPSSI 305 34 386 SLIYFDSSA 324 35 244 FLSSQPFED5111 36

TABLE 3b  HLA-A2 binding 10mer peptides derived from HJURP Start aminoPosition acid sequence Kd (nM) SEQ ID NO 405 RTLKWLISPV 15 37 128SVAWALAPAV 50 38 649 SLLGSTAIEA 75 39 273 RLLSTKPSSI 167 40 266GMLHSMSRLL 240 41 598 QMTVPLCIGV 246 42 54 TLTYETPQGL 281 43 731RMEEKSDFML 366 44 397 NLDEENRFRT 2637 45 157 LLQGAEYFEC 3384 46 455RMCLPDSWAM 5539 47 156 ILLQGAEYFE 14204 48

Start position indicates the number of amino acid residue from theN-terminus of HJURP. Dissociation constant [Kd (nM)] are derived from“NetMHC3.0”.

CTL Induction with the Predicted Peptides from HJURP Restricted withHLA-A*0201 and Establishment for CTL Lines Stimulated with HJURP DerivedPeptides

CTLs for those peptides derived from HJURP were generated according tothe protocols as described in “Materials and Methods”. Peptide specificCTL activity was determined by IFN-gamma ELISPOT assay (FIGS. 5 a-i).The following wells demonstrated potent IFN-gamma production as comparedto the control wells: number #4 stimulated with HJURP-A02-9-496 (SEQ IDNO: 26) (a), #2 with HJURP-A02-9-354 (SEQ ID NO: 27) (b), #4 withHJURP-A02-9-406 (SEQ ID NO: 30) (c), #5 with HJURP-A02-9-129 (SEQ ID NO:31) (d), #3 with HJURP-A02-9-599 (SEQ ID NO: 32) (e), #1 withHJURP-A02-9-386 (SEQ ID NO: 35) (f), #5 with HJURP-A02-10-405 (SEQ IDNO: 37) (g), #3 with HJURP-A02-10-128 (SEQ ID NO: 38) (h) and #6 withHJURP-A02-10-54 (SEQ ID NO: 43) (i). On the other hand, no potentIFN-gamma production could be detected by stimulation with otherpeptides shown in Tables 3a and 3b, despite those peptides had possiblebinding activity with HLA-A*0201. As a typical case of negative data, aspecific CTL response was not observed from peptide-pulsed target cellsstimulated with HJURP-A02-9-150 (SEQ ID NO: 25) (j). As a result, 9peptides derived from HJURP were identified as having the potential toinduce potent CTLs.

Establishment of CTL Lines and Clones Against HJURP Derived Peptides

The cells that showed peptide specific CTL activity detected byIFN-gamma ELISPOT assay in the well number #4 with HJURP-A02-9-496 (SEQID NO: 26) (a), in #4 with HJURP-A02-9-406 (SEQ ID NO: 30) (b), in #5with HJURP-A02-9-129 (SEQ ID NO: 31) (c), in #5 with HJURP-A02-10-405(SEQ ID NO: 37) (d) and in #3 with HJURP-A02-10-128 (SEQ ID NO: 38) (e)were expanded and CTL lines were established by limiting dilution asdescribed in the “Materials and Methods” section above. CTL activity ofthose CTL lines was determined by IFN-gamma ELISA assay (FIGS. 6 a-e).The CTL lines demonstrated potent IFN-gamma production against thetarget cells pulsed with the corresponding peptide as compared to targetcells without peptide pulse.

Furthermore, the CTL clones were established by limiting dilution fromthe CTL line as described in “Materials and Methods”, and IFN-gammaproduction from CTL clones against target cells pulsed peptide wasdetermined by IFN-gamma ELISA assay. Potent IFN-gamma production weredetermined from CTL clones stimulated with HJURP-A02-9-406 (SEQ ID NO:30) (a), HJURP-A02-9-129 (SEQ ID NO: 31) (b), HJURP-A02-10-405 (SEQ IDNO: 37) (c) and HJURP-A02-10-128 (SEQ ID NO: 38) (d) (FIGS. 7 a-d).

Specific CTL Activity Against Target Cells Exogenously Expressing HJURPand HLA-A*0201

The established CTL lines and clones raised against the peptide wereexamined for the ability to recognize target cells that endogenouslyexpress HJURP and HLA-A*0201 molecule. Specific CTL activity againstCOS7 cells which transfected with both the full length of HJURP andHLA-A*0201 molecule (a specific model for the target cells thatendogenously express HJURP and HLA-A*0201 gene) were tested using theCTL clone raised by corresponding peptide as the effector cells. COS7cells transfected with either full length of HJURP genes or HLA-A*0201were prepared as controls. In FIG. 8, the CTL clone stimulated withHJURP-A02-10-128 (SEQ ID NO: 38) showed potent CTL activity against COS7cells expressing both HJURP and HLA-A*0201. On the other hand, nosignificant specific CTL activity was detected against the controls.Thus, these data clearly demonstrated that peptides of HJURP-A02-10-128(SEQ ID NO: 38) was endogenously processed and expressed on the targetcells with HLA-A*0201 molecule and were recognized by the CTLs. Theseresults indicate that this peptide derived from HJURP may be suitable asa cancer vaccine for the treatment of patients with HJURP expressingtumors.

Homology Analysis of Antigen Peptides

The CTLs stimulated with HJURP-A02-9-496 (SEQ ID NO: 26),HJURP-A02-9-354 (SEQ ID NO: 27), HJURP-A02-9-406 (SEQ ID NO: 30),HJURP-A02-9-129 (SEQ ID NO: 31), HJURP-A02-9-599 (SEQ ID NO: 32),HJURP-A02-9-386 (SEQ ID:35), HJURP-A02-10-405 (SEQ ID:37),HJURP-A02-10-128 (SEQ ID:38) and HJURP-A02-10-54 (SEQ ID NO: 43) showedsignificant and specific CTL activity. This result may be due to thefact that the sequences of HJURP-A02-9-496 (SEQ ID NO: 26),HJURP-A02-9-354 (SEQ ID NO: 27), HJURP-A02-9-406 (SEQ ID NO: 30),HJURP-A02-9-129 (SEQ ID NO: 31), HJURP-A02-9-599 (SEQ ID NO: 32),HJURP-A02-9-386 (SEQ ID:35), HJURP-A02-10-405 (SEQ ID:37),HJURP-A02-10-128 (SEQ ID:38) and HJURP-A02-10-54 (SEQ ID NO: 43) arehomologous to peptides derived from other molecules that are known tosensitize the human immune system. To exclude this possibility, homologyanalyses were performed for these peptide sequences using as queries theBLAST algorithm (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/blast/blast.cgi) which revealed nosequence with significant homology. The results of homology analysesindicate that the sequences of HJURP-A02-9-496 (SEQ ID NO: 26),HJURP-A02-9-354 (SEQ ID NO: 27), HJURP-A02-9-406 (SEQ ID NO: 30),HJURP-A02-9-129 (SEQ ID NO: 31), HJURP-A02-9-599 (SEQ ID NO: 32),HJURP-A02-9-386 (SEQ ID:35), HJURP-A02-10-405 (SEQ ID:37),HJURP-A02-10-128 (SEQ ID:38) and HJURP-A02-10-54 (SEQ ID NO: 43) areunique and thus, there is little possibility, to our best knowledge,that these molecules raise unintended immunologic response to someunrelated molecule.

In conclusion, novel HLA-A*0201 epitope peptides derived from HJURP wereidentified. The results herein demonstrate that the epitope peptide ofHJURP may be suitable for use in for cancer immunotherapy.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention provides new TAAs, particularly those derived fromHJURP that induce potent and specific anti-tumor immune responses andhave applicability to a wide variety of cancer types. Such TAAs can finduse as peptide vaccines against diseases associated with HJURP, e.g.,cancer, more particularly, AML, bladder cancer, breast cancer, cervicalcancer, cholangiocellular carcinoma, CML, colorectal cancer, esophaguscancer, Diffused-type gastric cancer, liver cancer, NSCLC, lymphoma,osteosarcoma, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, renalcarcinoma, SCLC, soft tissue tumor and testicular tumor.

While the present invention is herein described in detail and withreference to specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood thatthe foregoing description is exemplary and explanatory in nature and isintended to illustrate the present invention and its preferredembodiments. Through routine experimentation, one skilled in the artwill readily recognize that various changes and modifications can bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention, the metes and bounds of which are defined by the appendedclaims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An isolated peptide of less than 15 aminoacids having cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) inducibility, wherein thepeptide is selected from the group consisting of: (a) an isolatedpeptide comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 38;and (b) an isolated peptide comprising the amino acid sequence as shownin SEQ ID NO: 38, in which 1 or 2 amino acid(s) are substituted.
 2. Theisolated peptide of claim 1, wherein the peptide has one or both of thefollowing characteristics: (a) the second amino acid from the N-terminusof SEQ ID NO: 38 is selected from the group consisting of leucine andmethionine; and (b) the C-terminal amino acid of SEQ ID NO: 38 isselected from the group consisting of valine and leucine.
 3. Theisolated peptide of claim 1, wherein said peptide is a decapeptide.
 4. Acomposition for inducing a CTL, wherein the composition comprises one ormore peptide(s) of claim
 1. 5. A pharmaceutical composition comprisingone or more peptide(s) of claim
 1. 6. The pharmaceutical composition ofclaim 5, wherein said pharmaceutical composition is formulated for theadministration to a subject whose HLA antigen is HLA-A2.
 7. A method forinducing an antigen-presenting cell (APC) with CTL inducibility, whereinthe method comprises the step of contacting an APC with the peptide ofclaim 1 in vitro or ex vivo.
 8. A method for inducing a CTL by a methodthat comprises a step selected from the group consisting of: (a)co-culturing CD8 positive T cells with APCs that present on the surfacea complex of an HLA antigen and the peptide of claim 1; and (b)co-culturing CD8 positive T cells with exosomes that presents on thesurface a complex of an HLA antigen and the peptide of claim
 1. 9. Thecomposition of claim 4, wherein the composition further comprises apharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and wherein the pharmaceuticallyacceptable carrier is sterilized water, physiological saline orphosphate buffer.
 10. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 5, whereinthe pharmaceutical composition further comprises a pharmaceuticallyacceptable carrier, and wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrieris sterilized water, physiological saline or phosphate buffer.
 11. Thepharmaceutical composition of claim 5, wherein the pharmaceuticalcomposition further comprises Incomplete Freund's adjuvant as anadjuvant.